Overview

The pendulum: a case study in physics is a unique book in several ways. Firstly, it is a comprehensive quantitative study of one physical system, the pendulum, from the viewpoint of elementary and more advanced classical physics, modern chaotic dynamics, and quantum mechanics. In addition, coupled pendulums and pendulum analogs of superconducting devices are also discussed. Secondly, this book treats the physics of the pendulum within a historical and cultural context, showing, for example, that the pendulum has been intimately connected with studies of the earth's density, the earth's motion, and timekeeping. While primarily a physics book, the work provides significant added interest through the use of relevant cultural and historical vignettes. This approach offers an alternative to the usual modern physics courses. The text is amply illustrated and augmented by exercises at the end of each chapter.

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9780199557684

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Reviews

The Pendulum presents insights and unusual approaches that will broaden the experience of undergraduate physics students. * Kenneth S. Krane, Physics Today * One of the delightful aspects of this book is its attention to historical detail. Not only does this add greatly to the enjoyment of reading it, it also gives a vivid impression of progress in our knowledge of the physical world, all too often absent in more focused and specialized works. * Contemporary Physics * In this well-illustrated treatment of the study of pendulum, Baker (Bryn Athyn College of the New Church) and Blackburn (Wilfrid Laurier U.) provide fascinating information about the history of the pendulum and what scientists thought it did, the revolution wrought by Foucault, the special cases of the torsion pendulum, the chaotic pendulum, the quantum pendulum, and coupled pendulums, the effects of superconductivity, and the most familiar to most of us, the pendulum clock. They include information on special interests in the appendices, such as the inverted pendulum and the longnow clock. * SciTech Book News *

a book devoted thematically to the history and physics of the pendulum is most welcomeGregory Baker and James Blackburn do an excellent job of weaving physical explanations with literary quotes and amusing anecdotes from the history of science. The authors have written their account for undergraduate physics majorsThe book offers a tour of different incarnations of the pendulum. An enjoyable theme and variations, it is well suited for use as a resource or as a recommended text in an advanced course on mechanincs. --Science In this well-illustrated treatment of the study of pendulum, Baker and Blackburn provide fascinating information about the history of the pendulum and what scientists thought it did, the revolution wrought by Foucault, the special cases of the torsion pendulum, the chaotic pendulum, the quantum pendulum, and coupled pendulums, the effects of superconductivity, and the most familiar to most of us, the pendulum clock. They include information on special interests in the appendices, such as the inverted pendulum and the Longnow clock. --SciTech Book News Pendulums simple, compound, chaotic, and quantum are described and analyzed in this concise book. Setting the tone, the small ample oscillations of a simple pendulum with no friction are modeled with differential equations. Time series graphs and phase plane diagrams are introduced for the simple pendulum and used later in the book for more complicated pendulums, especially the chaotic pendulum. Good historical and cultural background enliven the book, as do detailed drawings of historically significant apparatus such as the torsion pendulums used by Cavendish for his experiments on Earth's gravity and byCoulomb for his experiments on the fundamental electrostatic force. Chapters on modern topicsare supported with excellent use of graphs, diagrams, historical background, and differential equations...Fascinating aspects of the Foucault pendulum, Newton's Cradle, and other well-known pendulums are provided. --CHOICE

a book devoted thematically to the history and physics of the pendulum is most welcomeGregory Baker and James Blackburn do an excellent job of weaving physical explanations with literary quotes and amusing anecdotes from the history of science. The authors have written their account for undergraduate physics majorsThe book offers a tour of different incarnations of the pendulum. An enjoyable theme and variations, it is well suited for use as a resource or as a recommended text in an advanced course on mechanincs. --Science<br> In this well-illustrated treatment of the study of pendulum, Baker and Blackburn provide fascinating information about the history of the pendulum and what scientists thought it did, the revolution wrought by Foucault, the special cases of the torsion pendulum, the chaotic pendulum, the quantum pendulum, and coupled pendulums, the effects of superconductivity, and the most familiar to most of us, the pendulum clock. They include information on special interests in the appendices, such as the inverted pendulum and the Longnow clock. --SciTech Book News<br> Pendulums simple, compound, chaotic, and quantum are described and analyzed in this concise book. Setting the tone, the small ample oscillations of a simple pendulum with no friction are modeled with differential equations. Time series graphs and phase plane diagrams are introduced for the simple pendulum and used later in the book for more complicated pendulums, especially the chaotic pendulum. Good historical and cultural background enliven the book, as do detailed drawings of historically significant apparatus such as the torsion pendulums used by Cavendish for his experiments on Earth's gravity and byCoulomb for his experiments on the fundamental electrostatic force. Chapters on modern topicsare supported with excellent use of graphs, diagrams, historical background, and differential equations...Fascinating aspects of the Foucault pendulum, Newton's Cradle, and other well-known pendulums are provided. --CHOICE<br>

Author Information

Gregory L. Baker was born and educated in Toronto receiving his B.Sc. in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto, and his M.Sc and Ph.D. in physics, also from the University of Toronto. He has taught physics and mathematics at Bryn Athyn College since 1970, retiring from fulltime involvement in 2007. His scholarly interests have included stochastic processes (as a consultant), chaotic dynamics, and the relationship between religion and science. He has authored or co-authored more than sixty publications, many of which have appeared in peer reviewed journals. His books include the best selling Chaotic Dynamics: an Introduction, a technical/cultural book on the pendulum The Pendulum: a case study in physics, and Religion and Science: from Swedenborg to chaotic dynamics. Baker is a member of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers, and is a recipient of the Glencairn award for scholarship at Bryn Athyn College. James A. Blackburn is Professor of Physics at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada.

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