Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Physics and its relation to computer and Internet technologies -- Mathematics : the language of science and technology -- Mechanics : energy enables information technology -- Matter and heat : colling computers is required by the physics of computation -- Electricity and magnetism : the workhorses of information technology -- Digital electronics and computer logic -- Waves : sound, radio, and light -- Analog and digital communication -- Quantum physics of atoms and materials -- Semiconductor physics : transistors and circuits -- Digital memory and computers -- Photons : light detectors and light-emitting diodes -- Light and optical fibers for the Internet -- Light amplification and lasers -- Fiber-optics communication -- Communication networks and the Internet.