Pr.ctic.l PhyiC Practical Physics demonstrates thepurposiveandcritical approach that shouldbe madeto allexperimentalwork inphysics. It does not desribe asystematic course ofexperiments,butis intendedasacompaniontoanyundergraduatecourseof practical work. Thetextisinthreeparts.Thefrstdealswiththestatisticaltreatmentofdata, thesecondwithexperimentalmethods,andthethirdwith suchessentialmatters askeepingefcient records,accuracyincalculations,and writing good,scientifc English.Thetextisliberallyillustratedwithexamplesandexercises.with solutions to the latter. The new edition include a treatment ofthe Xl distribution, a setionon atomic clocksandtheirapplications,workedexamplesbasedonspreadsheets,and additionalexercises. The examples andreferencshavebeen brought up to date. Althoughintendedmainly forundergraduates,Prac/ical Physics has provedof interesttoseniorshoolstudents,teachers.andresearchworkers,notonlyin physics,butalsoinotherbranchesofscience.Previouseditionshaveben translatedintoGerman, Dutch,Spanish,Russian,Polish, and Arabic. GRDNSIREhasbeenaLeturerinPhysicsattheUniversityofCambridge andaFellowofTrinityCollege,Cambridgesinc1956.Hisfeldofresearchis thermalneutronscatteringand hehaspublished many papersinleadingscientifc jourals.Heisalsotheauthorof Introduct;on 10IheTheory 0/ Termal Neutron Scalltring (DoverPublications)andProblems ;n QU(lIIum Mechanics (Cambridge University Press) as wellas anarticle on quantum mechanics inthe Encyclopaedia Britannica.SinceretiringasaUniversityLeturerin1991, DrSquireshasben the Curatoror the CavendishLaboratoryMuseum. |f3C1IC3 |HySICS'. G.l.SQUIRES Emeritus "UT(r in Physi(.1 'tlhUnilYrsjl), ofC"'nbridt und Ftllow o/TrlnilY Colltgt. Cum/ridgt FOURTHEDITION :DUNIVERSITYPRESS PUBl,lSHEOBYTHE ''ESSSYNDICATE OfTHEUNIVElSITVOfCAN8"JOOE T PittBuilding. Trumpington Slreet,Cambridge, United Kingdom CAN8JDOUNIVE"SITVIl us The EdinburghBuilding. Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK 4 West20thSteet, New York, NY 1011-4211, USA 10 StamfordRoad, Oakleigh. VIC 3166, Australia Ruil de Alarcon 13, 28014 Madrid. Spain Dock House, The Waterfront, Cape Town 801. South Arc http://www.cambridge.org First twocditions \ McGraw. Hill BookCompany (UK) limite 1968. 1976 Thirdedition () CambridgeUniversity PrC$ 1985 Fourthedition: GordonLSquires 201 Thebookisincopyright.Subjedtostatutoryexcptionandtot provisioosofrelevantcollective licensingagreements,noreproouclionof anypartmaytakeplacewithoutthewrittenpnnimonof Clmbridge University Press. Fourthedition published201 Printed inthe United Kingdomatthe Unirsily Press, Cambridge Typcsclin Times10I13. 5p1Syste 3b2iCEI A culUlvgUfr