The aim of these chapters is to provide a mathematically honest derivation of core principles and results, but to depend on figures and diagrams for most definitions and arguments, with minimal algebraic formalism.  Math is less likely to prove a barrier than the sometimes inexperienced and ungraceful writing.

Header (prefatory material, contents, list of figures)

Part I: Classical Ideas

Introduction: Physics Today

The language of Physics

Dimensional analysis: The beginning of Physics

The fundamental dimensionful constants

Newton's revolution: The object and the external world

The principle of least action

Classical fields and currents

Part II: Relativity

The significance of relativity

The kinematics of special relativity

Relativistic Dynamics

Classical electromagnetism

Gravitation as general relativity

Part III: Quantum theory

The superposition principle, Huygens' construction, and the sum over paths

The discovery of quantum mechanics

The quantum theory

The sum over paths in particle physics

Bibliography, index

Browse by topic

Education overview

Talks

Chapters