Modern Physics

Modern physics is a branch of physics which deals with the post-Newtonian concepts in world of physics. It is based on the two major breakthroughs of twentieth century: Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Modern physics is the post-Newtonian conception of physics. It implies that classical descriptions of phenomena are lacking, and that an accurate, “modern”, description of nature requires theories to incorporate elements of quantum mechanics or Einsteinian relativity, or both. Quantum mechanical effects tend to appear when dealing with “lows” (low temperatures, small distances), while relativistic effects tend to appear when dealing with “highs” (high velocities, large distances), the “middles” being classical behaviour. For example, when analysing the behaviour of a gas at room temperature, most phenomena will involve the (classical) Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. However near absolute zero, the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution fails to account for the observed behaviour of the gas, and the (modern) Fermi–Dirac or Bose–Einstein distributions have to be used instead. The authors feel great pleasure to present the book entitled “Modern Physics” before readers. The book is self contained, complete and updated. The book has been written in a systematic manner that should enable the students to appreciate how each new idea from the earlier works.