Publisher's Synopsis
This book and its sequel, Theories of Matter, Space and Time: Classical theories, Volume 2, grew out of courses that are taught by the authors on the undergraduate degree program in physics at The University of Southampton, UK. The aim is to move beyond the initial courses in classical mechanics, special relativity, electromagnetism and quantum theory to more sophisticated views of these subjects and their interdependence. In this first book, several key areas of study are introduced. Firstly, the Principle of Least Action, an alternative treatment of Newtonian Dynamics, that provides new understanding of conservation laws. Secondly, Special Relativity, including four-vector notation. Thirdly, the integral and differential forms of Maxwell's Equations are discussed before massaging them to four-vector form so that the Lorentz boost properties of electric and magnetic fields were transparent.This second volume looks at ideas to the arena of quantum mechanics. Between the two volumes, the authors hope to move a student's understanding from their first courses to a place where they are ready to embark on graduate-level courses on quantum field theory.
