This Very Short Introduction looks at all the main kinds of wave, their sources, effects, and uses. Mike Goldsmith discusses how wave motion results in a range of phenomena, from reflection, diffraction, interference, and polarization in the case of light waves to beats and echoes for sound. All waves, however different, share many of the same features, and, as Goldsmith shows, for all their complexities many of their behaviours are fundamentally simple.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9780198803782
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: 02-01-2019
Pages: 160
Product Dimensions: 4.30(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Series: Very Short Introductions
About the Author
Mike Goldsmith is both a working scientist and a writer of science books. His main areas of research are astronomy, where he has investigated cosmic dust, supergiant stars, and the substances found in other galaxies, and sound, where he has worked on sound in air and water, the history of noise, and intelligent machinery. Since 1986, Mike has written over fifty papers, reports, and articles about sound, as well as over forty science books for readers ranging in age from toddlers to adults. His books have been published in over twenty countries, with two of his titles being shortlisted for the Royal Society Prize for Science Writing.
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