Natural Sciences Textbooks

Filters

BSc Optics

Contributors: Konijnenberg, Adam, and Urbach

Publisher: TU Delft Open

License: CC BY-NC-SA

This book treats optics at the level of students in the later stage of their bachelor or the beginning of their master. It is assumed that the student is familiar with Maxwell’s equations. Although the book takes account of the fact that optics is part of electromagnetism, special emphasis is put on the usefulness of approximate models of optics, their hierarchy and limits of validity. Approximate models such as geometrical optics and paraxial geometrical optics are treated extensively and applied to image formation by the human eye, the microscope and the telescope.

(2 reviews)

Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet

Contributor: Murphy

Publisher: eScholarship

License: CC BY-NC

Where is humanity going? How realistic is a future of fusion and space colonies? What constraints are imposed by physics, by resource availability, and by human psychology? Are default expectations grounded in reality?

(4 reviews)

General Biology II: Survey of Molecular Life and Genetics

Contributors: Bartee and Anderson

Publisher: Open Oregon Educational Resources

License: CC BY

BI102: Survey of Molecular Life and Genetics is intended for one term of the introductory biology course for non-science majors taught at many two- and four-year colleges. The concepts of genetics, as they apply to the study of life, are introduced, including the principles of inheritance, genetics, and gene regulation.

No ratings

(0 reviews)

General Biology I: Survey of Cellular Biology

Contributors: Bartee and Anderson

Publisher: Open Oregon Educational Resources

License: CC BY

BI101: Survey of Cellular Biology is intended for one term of the introductory biology course for non-science majors taught at many two- and four-year colleges. The concepts of cellular biology, as they apply to the study of life, are introduced, including parts of a cell, metabolism, and homeostasis.

(1 review)

Rain or Shine

Contributors: Ochsner, Howerton, and Ellis

Publisher: Oklahoma State University

License: CC BY

This text is an introduction to soil physical properties and processes.

No ratings

(0 reviews)

Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology - Australian Edition

Contributors: Chruścik, Kauter, Whiteside, and Windus

Publisher: University of Southern Queensland

License: CC BY-SA

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is committed to advancing the use of open textbooks in higher education. This textbook is a tool to support first year anatomy and physiology courses taught in Australia, aiming to provide students with an increased access to free, high-quality learning materials.

(4 reviews)

Introduction to Biosystems Engineering

Contributors: Holden, Wolfe, Ogejo, and Cummins

Publishers: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and Virginia Tech Publishing

License: CC BY

The discipline of Biosystems Engineering emerged in the 1990s from the traditional strongholds of agricultural engineering and food engineering. Biosystems engineering integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. Introduction to Biosystems Engineering is targeted at 1st and 2nd year university-level students with an interest in biosystems engineering but who are not yet familiar with the breadth and depth of the subject. It is designed as a coherent educational resource, also available for download as individual digital chapters. The book can be used as a localized, customizable text for introductory courses in Biosystems Engineering globally. It is written as a series of stand-alone chapters organized under six major topics: Food and Bioprocessing; Environment; Buildings and Infrastructure; Information and Communications Technology and Data; Machinery Systems; and Energy. Each chapter is organized around stated learning outcomes and describes key concepts, applications of the concepts, and worked examples.

No ratings

(0 reviews)

Coastal Dynamics

Contributors: Bosboom and Stive

Publisher: TU Delft Open

License: CC BY-NC-SA

This textbook on Coastal Dynamics focuses on the interrelation between physical wave, flow and sediment transport phenomena and the resulting morphodynamics of a wide variety of coastal systems. The textbook is unique in that it explicitly connects the dynamics of open coasts and tidal basins; not only is the interaction between open coasts and tidal basins of basic importance for the evolution of most coastal systems, but describing the similarities between their physical processes is highly instructive as well. This textbook emphasizes these similarities to the benefit of understanding shared processes such as nonlinearities in flow and sediment transport. Some prior knowledge with respect to the dynamics of flow, waves and sediment transport is recommended.

No ratings

(0 reviews)

A Mixed Course-Based Research Approach to Human Physiology

Contributor: Haen Whitmer

Publisher: Iowa State University

License: CC BY-SA

The Biology 256 Laboratory course was designed to provide students with hands-on access to modern techniques in human physiological analyses using the course-based research pedagogical approach. In this course, students will learn how to perform literature searches; generate research questions and hypotheses; design experiments; collect, analyze, visualize and interpret data; and present scientific findings to others. The Biol 256L curriculum offers a high-impact human physiology experience that fosters the critical thinking skills required to be a successful citizen in a modern world filled with misinformation.

(1 review)

Bio-Inspired Sensory Systems

Contributor: Brooks

Publisher: Florida State University

License: CC BY-NC-SA

Using natural sensory system concepts to develop and improve sensory systems will continue to thrive for many years to come. Technology advances rapidly (Moore’s Law) as does our understanding of biological principles and designs. These trends fuel the fertile grounds of bio-inspired sensory systems, a topic that is inherently multidisciplinary. This book will serve well as either an academic text on the subject or an introduction to the variety of proven bio-inspired designs. The focus is on sensory systems that interpret environmental stimuli. It introduces natural photo-, mechano-, and chemo-sensory systems across the animal kingdom and also summarizes various novel engineering ideas that glean ideas from these natural sensory systems.

No ratings

(0 reviews)