The Physical Universe, 15e by Konrad Krauskopf and Arthur Beiser is an outstanding text with a long history that has been updated and given a fresh look. This edition is also accompanied by a strong media component with the Connect online homework system, personal response system ("clicker") questions, more extensive online quizzing, and PowerPoint lectures. Aimed at presenting the essentials of physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy in a clear, easy-to-understand way, The Physical Universe shows students how science works, how scientists approach problems, and why science constantly evolves in its search for understanding. The text can also be packaged with its long time companion student study guide, which includes a review of chapter terms and concepts; self quizzing for extra practice; and additional solved problems.

1 The Scientific Method 1

How Scientists Study Nature 2

1.1 The Scientific Method 2

1.2 Why Science Is Successful 4

The Solar System 6

1.3 A Survey of the Sky 6

1.4 The Ptolemaic System 8

1.5 The Copernican System 8

1.6 Kepler's Laws 10

1.7 Why Copernicus Was Right 13

Universal Gravitation 14

1.8 What Is Gravity? 14

1.9 Why the Earth Is Round 16

1.10 The Tides 18

1.11 The Discovery of Neptune 19

How Many of What 20

1.12 The SI System 20

Important Terms and Ideas 23

Multiple Choice 24

Exercises 25

2 Motion 27

Describing Motion 28

2.1 Speed 28

2.2 Vectors 30

2.3 Acceleration 32

2.4 Distance, Time, and Acceleration 34

Acceleration Due to Gravity 35

2.5 Free Fall 35

2.6 Air Resistance 39

Force and Motion 39

2.7 First Law of Motion 41

2.8 Mass 42

2.9 Second Law of Motion 43

2.10 Mass and Weight 46

2.11 Third Law of Motion 47

Gravitation 48

2.12 Circular Motion 48

2.13 Newton's Law of Gravity 50

2.14 Artificial Satellites 51

Important Terms and Ideas 55

Important Formulas 55

Multiple Choice 55

Exercises 58

3 Energy 62

Work 63

3.1 The Meaning of Work 63

3.2 Power 64

Energy 66

3.3 Kinetic Energy 67

3.4 Potential Energy 67

3.5 Conservation of Energy 70

3.6 Mechanical Advantage 72

3.7 The Nature of Heat 74

Momentum 76

3.8 Linear Momentum 76

3.9 Rockets 78

3.10 Angular Momentum 79

Relativity 81

3.11 Special Relativity 81

3.12 Rest Energy 83

3.13 General Relativity 84

Important Terms and Ideas 86

Important Formulas 86

Multiple Choice 87

Exercises 88

4 Energy and the Future 91

The Energy Problem 92

4.1 Population and Prosperity 92

4.2 Energy Supply and Consumption 94

4.3 Climate Change 97

4.4 Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse Effect 100

Fossil Fuels 104

4.5 Liquid Fuels 105

4.6 Natural Gas 107

4.7 Coal 109

Alternative Sources 113

4.8 A Nuclear World? 113

4.9 Clean EnergyI 116

4.10 Clean Energy 118

4.11 Energy Storage 123

4.12 Biofuels 126

4.13 Comparison of Electricity Sources 129

Strategies for the Future 130

4.14 Conservation 130

4.15 What Governments Must Do 132

Important Terms and Ideas 136

Multiple Choice 136

Exercises 138

5 Matter and Heat 140

Temperature and Heat 141

5.1 Temperature 141

5.2 Heat 143

5.3 Metabolic Energy 145

Fluids 147

5.4 Density 147

5.5 Pressure 148

5.6 Buoyancy 151

5.7 The Gas Laws 153

Kinetic Theory of Matter 157

5.8 Kinetic Theory of Gases 157

5.9 Molecular Motion and Temperature 158

5.10 Heat Transfer 159

Changes of State 160

5.11 Liquids and Solids 160

5.12 Evaporation and Boiling 161

5.13 Melting 162

Energy Transformations 165

5.14 Heat Engines 166

5.15 Thermodynamics 167

5.16 Fate of the Universe 170

5.17 Entropy 171

Important Terms and Ideas 172

Important Formulas 173

Multiple Choice 173

Exercises 175

6 Electricity and Magnetism 180

Electric Charge 181

6.1 Positive and Negative Charge 181

6.2 What Is Charge? 183

6.3 Coulomb's Law 185

6.4 Force on an Uncharged Object 186

Electricity and Matter 187

6.5 Matter in Bulk 187

6.6 Conductors and Insulators 187

6.7 Superconductivity 189

Electric Current 191

6.8 The Ampere 191

6.9 Potential Difference 192

6.10 Ohms Law 195

6.11 Electric Power 196

Magnetism 199

6.12 Magnets 199

6.13 Magnetic Field 201

6.14 Oersted's Experiment 201

6.15 Electromagnets 203

Using Magnetism 204

6.16 Magnetic Force on a Current 205

6.17 Electric Motors 206

6.18 Electromagnetic Induction 207

6.19 Transformers 210

Important Terms and Ideas 213

Important Formulas 213

Multiple Choice 213

Exercises 216

7 waves 219

Wave Motion 220

7.1 Water Waves 220

7.2 Transverse and Longitudinal Waves 221

7.3 Describing Waves 222

7.4 Standing Waves 224

Sound Waves 225

7.5 Sound 225

7.6 Doppler Effect 227

7.7 Musical Sounds 228

Electromagnetic Waves 230

7.8 Electromagnetic Waves 230

7.9 Types of EM Waves 232

7.10 Light "Rays" 235

Wave Behavior 236

7.11 Reflection 236

7.12 Refraction 236

7.13 Lenses 240

7.14 The Eye 244

7.15 Color 245

7.16 Interference 248

7.17 Diffraction 249

Important Terms and Ideas 253

Important Formulas 254

Multiple Choice 254

Exercises 256

8 The Nucleus 259

Atom And Nucleus 260

8.1 Rutherford Model of the Atom 260

8.2 Nuclear Structure 261

Radioactivity 263

8.3 Radioactive Decay 264

8.4 Half-Life 267

8.5 Radiation Hazards 268

Nuclear Energy 271

8.6 Units of Mass and Energy 271

8.7 Binding Energy 272

8.8 Binding Energy per Nucleon 273

Fission And Fusion 274

8.9 Nuclear Fission 275

8.10 How a Reactor Works 277

8.11 Reactor Accidents 280

8.12 Plutonium 282

8.13 Nuclear Fusion 282

Elementary Particles 285

8.14 Antiparticles 286

8.15 Fundamental Interactions 288

8.16 Leptons and Hadrons 289

Important Terms and Ideas 291

Multiple Choice 292

Exercises 293

9 The Atom 296

Quantum Theory of Light 297

9.1 Photoelectric Effect 297

9.2 Photons 298

9.3 What Is Light? 300

9.4 X-Rays 301

Matter Waves 303

9.5 De Broglie Waves 303

9.6 Waves of What? 304

9.7 Uncertainty Principle 305

The Hydrogen Atom 307

9.8 Atomic Spectra 307

9.9 The Bohr Model 308

9.10 Electron Waves and Orbits 310

9.11 The Laser 312

Quantum Theory of the Atom 315

9.12 Quantum Mechanics 316

9.13 Quantum Numbers 317

9.14 Exclusion Principle 319

Important Terms and Ideas 320

Important Formulas 320

Multiple Choice 320

Exercises 322

10 The Periodic Law 325

Elements and Compounds 326

10.1 Chemical Change 326

10.2 Three Classes of Matter 327

10.3 The Atomic Theory 329

The Periodic Law 331

10.4 Metals and Nonmetals 331

10.5 Chemical Activity 332

10.6 Families of Elements 333

10.7 The Periodic Table 334

10.8 Groups and Periods 335

Atomic Structure 338

10.9 Shells and Subshells 339

10.10 Explaining the Periodic Table 340

Chemical Bonds 342

10.11 Types of Bond 342

10.12 Covalent Bonding 343

10.13 Ionic Bonding 346

10.14 Ionic Compounds 347

10.15 Atom Groups 348

10.16 Naming Compounds 349

10.17 Chemical Equations 350

Important Terms and Ideas 351

Multiple Choice 352

Exercises 354

11 Crystals, Ions, and Solutions 357

Solids 358

11.1 Ionic and Covalent Crystals 359

11.2 The Metallic Bond 360

11.3 Molecular Crystals 362

Solutions 364

11.4 Solubility 364

11.5 Polar And Nonpolar Liquids 367

11.6 Ions in Solution 369

11.7 Evidence for Dissociation 371

11.8 Water 372

11.9 Water Pollution 375

Acids and Bases 377

11.10 Acids 377

11.11 Strong and Weak Acids 378

11.12 Bases 379

11.13 The pH Scale 380

11.14 Salts 380

Important Terms and Ideas 382

Multiple Choice 382

Exercises 384

12 Chemical Reactions 386

Quantitative Chemistry 387

12.1 Phlogiston 387

12.2 Oxygen 389

12.3 The Mole 391

12.4 Formula Units 392

Chemical Energy 395

12.5 Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions 395

12.6 Chemical Energy and Stability 396

12.7 Activation Energy 399

Reaction Rates 400

12.8 Temperature and Reaction Rates 401

12.9 Other Factors 401

12.10 Chemical Equilibrium 403

12.11 Altering an Equilibrium 404

Oxidation And Reduction 405

12.12 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions 405

12.13 Electrochemical Cells 407

Important Terms and Ideas 410

Multiple Choice 410

Exercises 412

13 Organic Chemistry 415

Carbon Compounds 416

13.1 Carbon Bonds 416

13.2 Alkanes 417

13.3 Petroleum Products 418

Structures Of Organic Molecules 421

13.4 Structural Formulas 421

13.5 Isomers 422

13.6 Unsaturated Hydrocarbons 424

13.7 Benzene 425

Organic Compounds 427

13.8 Hydrocarbon Groups 427

13.9 Functional Groups 428

13.10 Polymers 431

Chemistry of Life437

13.11 Carbohydrates 437

13.12 Photosynthesis 439

13.13 Lipids 440

13.14 Proteins 441

13.15 Soil Nitrogen 443

13.16 Nucleic Acids 445

13.17 Origin of Life 446

Important Terms and Ideas 448

Multiple Choice 448

Exercises 450

14 Atmosphere and Hydrosphere 453

The Atmosphere 454

14.1 Regions of the Atmosphere 454

14.2 Atmospheric Moisture 458

14.3 Clouds 459

Weather 462

14.4 Atmospheric Energy 462

14.5 The Seasons 465

14.6 Winds 466

14.7 General Circulation of the Atmosphere 467

14.8 Middle-Latitude Weather Systems 470

Climate 478

14.9 Tropical Climates 478

14.10 Middle-and High-Latitude Climates 479

14.11 Climate Change 479

The Hydrosphere 483

14.12 Ocean Basins 483

14.13 Ocean Currents 485

Important Terms and Ideas 487

Multiple Choice 488

Exercises 490

15 The Rock Cycle 493

Rocks 494

15.1 Composition of the Crust 494

15.2 Minerals 495

15.3 Igneous Rocks 497

15.4 Sedimentary Rocks 498

15.5 Metamorphic Rocks 500

Within the Earth 502

15.6 Earthquakes 502

15.7 Structure of the Earth 504

15.8 The Earth's Interior 509

15.9 Geomagnetism 511

Erosion 512

15.10 Weathering 512

15.11 Stream Erosion 514

15.12 Glaciers 516

15.13 Groundwater 518

15.14 Sedimentation 519

Vulcanism 523

15.15 Volcanoes 523

15.16 Intrusive Rocks 527

15.17 The Rock Cycle 529

Important Terms and Ideas 530

Multiple Choice 530

Exercises 532

16 The Evolving Earth 535

Tectonic Movement 536

16.1 Types of Deformation 536

16.2 Mountain Building 538

16.3 Continental Drift 539

Plate Tectonics 542

16.4 Lithosphere and Asthenosphere 542

16.5 The Ocean Floors 543

16.6 Ocean-Floor Spreading 544

16.7 Plate Tectonics 545

Methods of Historical Geology 553

16.8 Principle of Uniform Change 553

16.9 Rock Formations 554

16.10 Radiometric Dating 557

16.11 Fossils 559

16.12 Geologic Time 560

Earth History 562

16.13 Precambrian Time 563

16.14 The Paleozoic Era 564

16.15 Coal and Petroleum 566

16.16 The Mesozoic Era 568

16.17 The Cenozoic Era 571

16.18 Human History 573

Important Terms and Ideas 576

Multiple Choice 577

Exercises 579

17 The Solar System 581

The Family of the Sun 582

17.1 The Solar System 583

17.2 Comets 584

17.3 Meteors 587

The Inner Planets 590

17.4 Mercury 590

17.5 Venus 591

17.6 Mars 594

17.7 Is There Life on Mars?596

17.8 Asteroids 598

The Outer Planets 601

17.9 Jupiter 601

17.10 Saturn 604

17.11 Uranus,Neptune, Pluto,and More 606

The Moon 609

17.12 Phases of the Moon 610

17.13 Eclipses 611

17.14 Lunar Surface and Interior 612

17.15 Evolution of the Lunar Landscape 617

17.16 Origin of the Moon 617

Important Terms and Ideas 618

Multiple Choice 619

Exercises 621

18 The Stars 623

Tools of Astronomy 624

18.1 The Telescope 624

18.2 The Spectrometer 627

18.3 Spectrum Analysis 627

The Sun 629

18.4 Properties of the Sun 629

18.5 The Aurora 631

18.6 Sunspots 632

18.7 Solar Energy 634

The Stars 636

18.8 Stellar Distances 636

18.9 Variable Stars 637

18.10 Stellar Motions 638

18.11 Stellar Properties 639

Life Histories of the Stars 640

18.12 H-R Diagram 640

18.13 Stellar Evolution 642

18.14 Supernovas 644

18.15 Pulsars 646

18.16 Black Holes 646

Important Terms and Ideas 649

Multiple Choice 649

Exercises 651

19 The Universe 653

Galaxies 654

19.1 The Milky Way 654

19.2 Stellar Populations 657

19.3 Radio Astronomy 657

19.4 Galaxies 659

19.5 Cosmic Rays 662

The Expanding Universe 664

19.6 Red Shifts 664

19.7 Quasars 666

Evolution Of The Universe 667

19.8 Dating the Universe 667

19.9 After the Big Bang 668

19.10 Origin of the Solar System 673

Extraterrestrial Life 675

19.11 Exoplanets 675

19.12 Interstellar Travel 677

19.13 Interstellar Communication 678

Important Terms and Ideas 679

Multiple Choice 679

Exercises 681

Math Refresher A-1

The Elements A-10

Answers to Multiple-Choice Questions and Odd-Numbered Exercises A-11

Photo Credits C-1

Index 1-1

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