Elementary in three volumes

Vladislav Syashchenko , doctor physical. Sciences of the Belgorod State National Research University, continues a series of publications about the present and future of physics textbooks.

In the room before last, I tried to express the warm feelings that I have related to the textbook “Popular Physics” by J. Orira. However, it was precisely as a textbook that I did not use this book in my school years. I systematically worked out a completely different essay - a three -volume “Elementary Physics Textbook” edited by G.S. Landsberg.

The Landsberg textbook, as it is briefly called, is the fruit of the collective work of physicists and teachers of higher education, who did not suit the level of training of applicants of that time. Among its authors S.E. Khaykin, M.A. Leontovich, D.I. Sakharov, S.G. Kalashnikov, S.M. Rytov et al.

The first edition of the textbook was published in 1948-1952. Written in a solid traditional manner (it could not be otherwise), he withstood 14 only official publications (the latter in 2011-2012), not counting the reprint renections issued by commercial firms with fun names such as “Shrik” or “V. Droder”, so the general circulation is difficult to evaluate.

What is the reason for such a high and stable popularity (in addition to the competence of the authors)?

In my opinion, there are two such reasons. The first of them is that to illustrate the “work” of physical laws, a large array of examples from various fields of technology is attracted.

It is important to understand that the idea of ​​the polytechnism of education (if you do not invest in these words of some abnormal meaning) is not only the slogan of the Soviet era, it is a real psychological need for a significant part of capable schoolchildren. At one time, the three -volume of Landsberg turned out to me closer than other books, just as the “young technician” was closer to “Quantum”, and, judging by the popularity of the “elementary textbook”, I am not alone. On the other hand, polytechnism reflects the real needs of society: in the end, the “techies” need much more than scientists, and the labor market feels more and more.

In 1985 (10th edition), a noticeable modernization of the textbook was carried out. In particular, an anachronisms such as constructing the theory of magnetic phenomena based on the concept of magnetic charge disappeared, the chapter appeared on the achievements of physics of elementary particles, including the concept of the quarrel model of adrones and a description of the discovery of W- and Z-bosons. However, the main corps of examples of technical applications of physical laws, which is the "highlight" of the course, remained the same.

Of course, the modern reader is interested in knowing how the galvanic element of Leklanche and the Daniel element differs, but it would be even more interesting for him to find out the device of modern lithium-ion batteries or promising hydrogen fuel elements. In the era of mobile phones with digital cameras, you cannot limit acquaintance with semiconductors by considering copper-zakis and germanium diodes.

Such a “hover” at the level of technology is more than half a century ago sooner or later will lead to the loss of the popularity of the Landsberg textbook and turning it into a kind of monument of the era. Of course, it would be desirable that the current generation of professors of the Physics and Foundation of Moscow State University create a new textbook of elementary physics worthy of its predecessor.

However, in my opinion, the three -volume of Landsberg himself deserves not oblivion, but modernization. This is due to the second reason for its longevity. The textbook is written in an excellent language, reads easily, as an exciting novel, which makes it an indispensable manual for self -education. In the end, neither the laws of physics, nor the essence of the school curriculum changed. In my opinion, it should be minimally touched on the main text, to significantly update the set of examples illustrating the application of laws and the results of physics in technology. Perhaps such processing will ensure the relevance of the “elementary textbook of physics” for another fifty years. Do not lose what the good that we have!

Elementary physics textbook. Textbook. In 3 volumes / ed. G.S. Landsberg. -M., Nauka, 1985 (10th edition).