There are all sorts of resonances around us, in the world, in our culture, and in our technology. A tidal resonance causes the 55 foot tides in the Bay of Fundy. Mechanical and acoustical resonances and their control are at the center of practically every musical instrument that ever existed. Even our voices and speech are based on controlling the resonances in our throat and mouth. Technology is also a heavy user of resonance. All clocks, radios, televisions, and gps navigating systems use electronic resonators at their very core. Doctors use magnetic resonance imaging or MRI to sense the resonances in atomic nuclei to map the insides of their patients. In spite of the great diversity of resonators, they all share many common properties. In this blog, we will delve into their various aspects. It is hoped that this will serve both the students and professionals who would like to understand more about resonators. I hope all will enjoy the animations.

For a list of all topics discussed, scroll down to the very bottom of the blog, or click here.

Origins of Newton's laws of motion

Non-mathematical introduction to relativity

Three types of waves: traveling waves, standing waves and rotating waves new

History of mechanical clocks with animations
Understanding a mechanical clock with animations
includes pendulum, balance wheel, and quartz clocks

Water waves, Fourier analysis


Sunday, July 17, 2011

References used for the mathematics of relativity

all topics by author introduction to relativity contents-mathematics of relativity contents-transforming electromagnetic fields previous: separating the transformed Maxwell equations

  1. Classical Electrodynamics by J. D. Jackson, a widely used graduate physics level textbook.
  2. Engineering Electromagnetics by Hayt and Buck, a junior level engineering electromagnetic textbook. No relativity, but electric and magnetic field equations are clearly explained.
  3. Classical Electricity and Magnetism by Panofsky and Phillips. A senior level textbook on electric and magnetic fields. Has a good section on relativity, including that applied to electric and magnetic fields, probably more complete than Jackson.
  4. Field and Wave Electromagnetics by Cheng, a junior level engineering electromagnetic textbook somewhat more sophisticated and complete than Hayt and Buck.
  5. Feynman Lectures in Physics, a senior level physics text that has electromagnetics, relativity and general physics. Intended as a text for freshmen at Cal Tech but makes good reading in general.
  6. Fields and waves in communication electronics by Ramo, Whinnery and Van Duzer, a graduate level engineering electromagnetic textbook. Theoretically less sophisticated than Jackson, but more complete on applications. Does not cover relativity.
  7. Lorrian and Corsan, a junior/senior physics textbook. Follows a unique approach to building up magnetic fields as moving electric fields using relativistic concepts similar to those presented here.
  8. Berkely physics course - volume 2 - electricity and magnetism, a sophomore level physics textbook that treats things in its own special way. Makes good reading.
  9. Wikipedia, many relativity topics are covered at all sorts of levels.
  10. There are many other very good sites on the internet both in text form and in video form.

Posted by P. Ceperley at 11:46 AM