西尔斯当代大学物理双语课件.pptVIP

轶事:蜘蛛织网和平面直角坐标系的创立 　　据说有一天，笛卡尔生病卧床，病情很重，尽管如此他还反复思考一个问题：几何图形是直观的，而代数方程是比较抽象的，能不能把几何图形和代数方程结合起来？他苦苦思索，拼命琢磨，通过什么样的方法，才能把“点”和“数”联系起来。突然，他看见屋顶角上的一只蜘蛛，拉着丝垂了下来。一会功夫，蜘蛛又顺这丝爬上去，在上边左右拉丝。蜘蛛的“表演”使笛卡尔的思路豁然开朗。他想，可以把蜘蛛看作一个点。他在屋子里可以上、下、左、右运动，能不能把蜘蛛的每一个位置用一组数确定下来呢？他又想，屋子里相邻的两面墙与地面交出了三条线，如果把地面上的墙角作为起点，把交出来的三条线作为三根数轴，那么空间中任意一点的位置就可以在这三根数轴上找到有顺序的三个数。反过来，任意给一组三个有顺序的数也可以在空间中找到一点P与之对应，这就是坐标系的雏形。 * Chapter 1 Physical Quantities and Vectors Physics is an experimental science. Physicists observe the phenomena of nature and try to find patterns and principles that relate these phenomena. These patterns are called physical theories or physical laws, or principles. Every physical theory has a range of validity. No theory has ever regarded as the final truth. 1.1 The nature of physics 1.2 Idealized Models A model is a simplified version of a physical system that would be too complicated to analyze in full detail. point masses rigid bodies idealized insulators …… …… For Example: A baseball thrown through the air Is it spherical ? raised seam It moves or spins ? Wind Air resistance The ball’s weight varies a little as its distance from the center of the earth changes How complicated? 1.2 Idealized Models We neglect the size and shape of the ball by representing it as a point object, or particle. We neglect air resistance by making the ball move in a vacuum. We ignore the earth’s rotation. We make the weight constant. point masses 1.2 Idealized Models 1.3 Standards and Units Physics is an experimental science. Experiments require measurements. Physical quantity Number + Unit Operational definition: Some physical quantities are so fundamental that we can define them only by describing how to measure them. Mass —— balance —— kilogram Distance —— ruler —— meter Time interval —— stopwatch —— second International System (SI) To make accurate, reliable measurements, we need units of measurement that do not change and that can