Theoretical Physics

THE difficulty of presenting to students an account of the theoretical side of physics which will be adequate without being so voluminous as to encroach unfairly on the time available for other aspects of the subject, is one which to-day must cause much anxious thought to university teachers. It is not merely a question of the increasing amount of material to be handled. The changes which have taken place in fundamental principles, the transitional character of some of the hypotheses which have helped to support the structure in this period of change, and the tendency to abandon the physical model in favour of the mathematical equation as a basis for ‘explanation’, combine to make it an almost impossible task for the teacher to guide the studies of his pupils so wisely that nothing of importance for exhibiting the unity of physical theory shall be omitted and, at the same time, sufficient time shall be allowed for proper assimilation of principle and application even on the part of the brightest honours man.Theoretical Physics.By Prof. W. Wilson. Vol. 1: Mechanics and Heat, Newton-Carnot. Pp. x + 332. (London: Methuen and Co., Ltd., 1931.) 21s. net.