The essential primer for physics students who want to build their
physical intuition
Presented in A. Zee's incomparably engaging style, this book introduces
physics students to the practice of using physical reasoning and
judicious guesses to get at the crux of a problem. An essential primer
for advanced undergraduates and beyond, Fly by Night Physics reveals
the simple and effective techniques that researchers use to think
through a problem to its solution--or failing that, to smartly guess the
answer--before starting any calculations.
In typical physics classrooms, students seek to master an enormous
toolbox of mathematical methods, which are necessary to do the precise
calculations used in physics. Consequently, students often develop the
unfortunate impression that physics consists of well-defined problems
that can be solved with tightly reasoned and logical steps. Idealized
textbook exercises and homework problems reinforce this erroneous
impression. As a result, even the best students can find themselves
completely unprepared for the challenges of doing actual research.
In reality, physics is replete with back of the envelope estimates,
order of magnitude guesses, and fly by night leaps of logic. Including
exciting problems related to cutting-edge topics in physics, from
Hawking radiation to gravity waves, this indispensable book will help
students more deeply understand the equations they have learned and
develop the confidence to start flying by night to arrive at the answers
they seek. For instructors, a solutions manual is available upon
request.
