Continuum physics

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This concise book on continuously distributed matter explores a vast array of topics within continuum physics, presenting governing principles alongside carefully selected examples. It covers structural mechanics, elasticity, fluid media, electricity, optics, thermoelectricity, and fluctuation phenomena, ranging from Archimedes' principle to white dwarfs. Key subjects include metamaterials, reaction-diffusion pattern formation, and surface plasmon polaritons, as well as classical topics like Stokes' formula, beam bending, buckling, crystal optics, and electro- and magneto-optic effects. The text introduces balance equations for particles, mass, charge, momentum, energy, and entropy, complemented by constitutive equations that characterize various materials, including viscid fluids, elastic media, dielectrics, and conductors. It examines matter's response to rapidly oscillating external parameters, especially the electric field strength of light, through the lens of statistical thermodynamics. An appendix on fields and a glossary enhance this overview of continuum physics. Students in physics, engineering, and related fields will find the clear presentation of worked examples and diverse solution methods beneficial, while lecturers and advanced students may gain a unified perspective on significant aspects of physics, aiding in conceptualizing their research within a broader context.