1 - Introduction

Summary

The opening chapter sets out the aims of the book in more detail. There is a contrast between the way in which physics is taught and how it is used in a research context. Lecture courses provide a streamlined presentation of the material that every physicist ought to know, but this does not necessarily reflect the actual process of discovery and innovation in physics. The book is intended to bring to life the process of carrying out research in physics. The roles of creativity and imagination are emphasised and illustrated by seven case studies of key areas of physics. Tracing how giants like Maxwell and Einstein came to their revolutionary innovations brings to life the process of discovery in physics. Theoretical analyses are given at a level accessible to undergraduates in experimental and theoretical physics. The book should be considered complementary to standard physics courses and is intended to enrich the appreciation of the content of physics and theoretical physics courses.