Physics and Modern Life

This book introduces physics concepts and principles at a conversant but non-technical level. It also explores technology, with particular focus on two overarching themes that largely define modern life: our intensified use of energy and digital information. These themes take up several entire chapters (“Human Use of Chemical Fuel,” “Computers,” and “Light and Telecommunications”) and substantial parts of several others (e.g., sections on satellites and GPS, telegraph and telephone networks, generators and transformers, nuclear power, and solid-state technologies). The themes of energy and information highlight the pertinence of physics and facilitate a big-picture understanding of how life today differs from that of two hundred or two thousand years ago. The book grew out of lecture notes for a one-semester college physics course for non-science majors, so it could be useful to instructors and students of similar courses. The abundance of material offers some freedom in the design of such a course. However, the author hopes that the combination of conceptual depth and informal tone will appeal to a more diverse audience united by a genuine curiosity regarding science and technology. That audience might include pursuers of continuing education as well as physics majors looking for a lighter conceptual supplement to give context to their more technical coursework.