I wrote this up for all those who are interested in physics. It is just for fun, and
there is no commercial interest in it.
The latest edition of the free Motion Mountain physics text
can be downloaded at
http://www.motionmountain.net
In total, over 1200 pages lead through the whole of physics,
from classical mechanics to relativity, electrodynamics,
thermodynamics, quantum theory, nuclear physics and
unification.
The eighteenth edition adds more about the echolocation
capabilities of bats and humans, describes the puzzle of
Einstein's last birthday present, gives more details on
rainbows, introduces the pearl necklace length contraction
paradox and presents the Einstein-de Haas effect and the
Barnett effect. The text now provides the classification of
rocks, shows how to use the high voltage from a computer
monitor to make things levitate, introduces magnetoreception
and the sensing of electrical fields, explains the Richter
scale for earthquakes, gives an introduction into the
behaviour of solids, liquids and gases at lowes temperatures
and presents the potentially toughest challenge of physics.
Numerous figures, photographs and puzzles have been added.
The section on special relativity and several other chapters
have been improved thoroughly. Over 60 pages of new
material have been added, often triggered by remarks and
suggestions of readers. A warm thank you to all of them.
If you find a boring page, do complain - I'll change it.
Enjoy.
Christoph Schiller
