Zitzewitz - The Handy Physics Answer Book

Paul W. Zitzewitz graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. in physics and received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University, also in physics. After post-doctoral positions at the University of Western Ontario and Corning Glass Works, he joined the faculty at the University of MichiganDearborn, where he taught and did research on positrons and positronium for more than 35 years.

During his career the university awarded him distinguished faculty awards in research, service, and teaching and named him emeritus professor of physics and science education in 2009. Zitzewitz has been active in local, state, and national physics teachers organizations, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and has been honored as a Fellow of the American Physical Society for his work in physics education.

Zitzewitz is presently treasurer and member of the executive board of the American Association of Physics Teachers. He is the author of the high school physics textbook Physics: Principles and Problems and is a contributing author to four middleschool physical science textbooks.

Zitzewitz enjoys classical music and opera and attending plays. His hobbies are collecting stamps of scientists (especially physicists), genealogy, and computers. He and his wife live in Northville, Michigan, but enjoy their summer cottage in Traverse City, especially when their children and grandchildren visit.

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Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile
Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski
Typesetting: Marco Di Vita
Indexing: Shoshana Hurwitz
Proofreader: Sarah Hermsen
ISBN 978-1-57859-305-7

Cover images: iStock.

Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Zitzewitz, Paul W.
The handy physics answer book / Paul W. Zitzewitz.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-57859-305-7
1. Physics--Miscellanea. I. Title.
QC75.Z58 2011
530--dc22

2010047248

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

I want to express my thanks to a large number of others who have asked questions and challenged answers over a long career. These include students in my classesfrom future elementary teachers, engineers, and physicists; members of the research group at the University of MichiganAnn Arbor; colleagues at the University of Michigan Dearborn in physics, the natural sciences department, and the Inquiry Institute; high school teachers in the Detroit area and the state of Michigan; and fellow members of the American Association of Physics Teachers. I owe them all a deep debt of gratitude.

Of course, the most persistent challenges have come from my children and grandchildren, who have many times asked, But why? My parents supported and encouraged my early interests in physics, chemistry, and electronics, and for that I am extremely grateful. More than anyone, however, I would like to thank my wife, Barb, who is my best friend and colleague. She has encouraged and supported me throughout our life together.

This second edition of the Handy Physics Answer Book is based on the first edition, written by P. Erik Gundersen. The new edition has adopted the structure and style of the first. Some questions and answers have not been changed, but many others have been updated and new ones have been added. Eriks work has been a tremendous help in writing this edition. I would also like to thank Roger Jnecke and Kevin Hile at Visible Ink Press for their encouragement and help during the writing of this book. While the book has been carefully researched and proofread, I take responsibility for any remaining errors.

Paul W. Zitzewitz
Northville, Michigan
November, 2010

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