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The primary aim of this book is to cover syllabuses for pupils aged 16 + including GCSE in schools and technical colleges. Also, the requirements of the West African Examinations Council, some of whose questions have been included in this edition, the Hong Kong School Certificate, the East African Examinations Council and the Singapore Ministry of Education have been taken into consideration. Since the publication of the fourth edition many requests have been received for the addition of new material on semiconductor devices and their applications. Accordingly, a new chapter has been added which incorporates part of the previous chapter 44 together with much new material provided by Mr B. Johnston. In connection with this, our thanks are due to Mr J. Underwood, Director of Studies at Hampton School, and Mr C. Clare of Dr Challoner's School for reading and constructively advising on the new material. At the same time we have taken the opportunity of this new edition to amend the text where necessary and to bring it up to date in several places. Our previous policy of emphasis on practical work has been continued. The whole text has been planned and revised, not only as a firm basis for the studies offuture physicists and engineers, but also to present physics to the general reader as a human intellectual discipline with deep roots in the past and largely responsible for the development of our technological culture. My co-author Mrs U. P. Abbott and I are greatly indebted to the many who have helped with invaluable advice and criticism in the preparation of previous editions, but especially to Dr J. W. Warren of Brunei University, Dr E. J. Wheeler of Surrey University, Mr K. J. B. Constable, M.Sc. of the John Leggott Sixth Form College, Scunthorpe, Mr J. Underwood, B.Sc., M.Ed. of Hampton School, Mr C. F. Tolman, M.A. formerly of Whit gift School, and Mr J. H. Avery, M.A. formerly of Stockport Grammar School. Finally, we thank the late Sir John Cockcroft for his criticism of the text of the first edition, particularly the section dealing with atomic and nuclear physics.