Instructor Solutions Manual

Essential University Physics

Second Edition

Richard Wolfson
Middlebury College
Brett Kraabel
PhD, Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
Michael Schirber
PhD, Astrophysics, Ohio State University

Executive Editor: Nancy Whilton

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ISBN 10: 0-321-69723-5

ISBN 13: 978-0-3216-9723-3

CONTENTS
Preface
Chapter 1

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Doing Physics

1-1

PART ONE Mechanics

Chapter 2
Motion in a Straight Line
Chapter 3
Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
Chapter 4
Force and Motion
Chapter 5
Using Newtons Laws
Chapter 6
Work, Energy, and Power
Chapter 7
Conservation of Energy
Chapter 8
Gravity
Chapter 9
Systems of Particles
Chapter 10 Rotational Motion
Chapter 11 Rotational Vectors and Angular Momentum
Chapter 12 Static Equilibrium

2-1
3-1
4-1
5-1
6-1
7-1
8-1
9-1
10-1
11-1
12-1

PART TWO Oscillations, Waves, and Fluids

Chapter 13 Oscillatory Motion
Chapter 14 Wave Motion
Chapter 15 Fluid Motion

13-1
14-1
15-1

PART THREE Thermodynamics

Chapter 16 Temperature and Heat
Chapter 17 The Thermal Behavior of Matter
Chapter 18 Heat, Work, and the First Law of Thermodynamics
Chapter 19 The Second law of Thermodynamics

16-1
17-1
18-1
19-1

PART FOUR Electromagnetism

Chapter 20 Electric Charge, Force, and Field
Chapter 21 Gausss Law
Chapter 22 Electric Potential
Chapter 23 Electrostatic Energy and Capacitors
Chapter 24 Electric Current
Chapter 25 Electric Circuits
Chapter 26 Magnetism: Force and Field
Chapter 27 Electromagnetic Induction
Chapter 28 Alternating-Current Circuits
Chapter 29 Maxwells Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

20-1
21-1
22-1
23-1
24-1
25-1
26-1
27-1
28-1
29-1

PART FIVE Optics

Chapter 30 Reflection and Refraction
Chapter 31 Images and Optical Instruments
Chapter 32 Interference and Diffraction

30-1
31-1
32-1

PART SIX
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39

33-1
34-1
35-1
36-1
37-1
38-1
39-1

Modern Physics
Relativity
Particles and Waves
Quantum Mechanics
Atomic Physics
Molecules and Solids
Nuclear Physics
From Quarks to the Cosmos

iii

PREFACE
The Instructor Solutions Manual for Essential University Physics, Second Edition, by Richard Wolfson, has two purposes:
first, to provide worked solutions to you, the instructor; second, to provide you with thorough examples of good problemsolving techniques and strategies that you can post to help your students.
We hear from many instructors that many manuals provide solutions that simply plug numbers into equations, thereby
reinforcing one of the worst student habits. The solutions in this manual instead coach students through a range of helpful
and effective problem-solving techniques to build their skills and confidence in solving physics problems. By working
through these solutions carefully and following the research-based four-step-problem-solving approach used in the text
(Interpret, Develop, Evaluate, Assess), students will learn to successfully

interpret problems and identify the key physics concepts involved

develop a plan and draw figures for their solutions
evaluate any mathematical expressions
assess their solution to check it makes sense and see how it adds to their broader understanding of physics

Education research has shown that it is more beneficial for students to study a limited number of carefully chosen problems
in detail, including variations, than to work through a larger number of problems more quickly. The solutions presented in
this manual are designed to provide a basis for this research-based approach.
Through multiple reviews involving many instructors, we have made every effort to ensure these solutions are accurate
and correct. If you find any errors or ambiguities, we would be very grateful to hear from you. Please contact your Pearson
Education/Addison-Wesley sales representative, who will pass on any errors to the appropriate person.

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