Understanding the Properties and Behavior of the Cosmos: A Historical Perspective 2nd EditionThis book gives a comprehensive treatment on the historical discoveries and scientific developments concerning the physical Universe. Discussions begin with ancient philosophies on the behavior of the Cosmos and ends with exciting modernD discoveries that are leading us to unlocking the hidden mysteries of reality. The topics covered in this fascinating book discuss disciplines such as Astronomy, Newtonian Mechanics, Electro-magnetism, Einstein's Special and General Theories of Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Particle Physics, and String Theory all in a historical context. There are virtually no mathematical equations for the reader to be concerned with. This book is written for the general reader that has a curiosity about the makeup and dynamics of the Universe. It is a refreshing alternative to some of the rigorous physics books on the market. Astronomy is the study of the celestial which is the displacement and orbital movements of stars, planets, comets, etc. Newtonian Mechanics, developed by Sir Isaac Newton, concerns itself with the mechanical motion of moving bodies like planets and other astronomical objects to terrestrial objects here on Earth through the force of gravity. Relativity, developed by Albert Einstein, postulates the concepts of space and time from the connections on why the speed of light is the speed of time, how curved space creates gravity and other implications of space and time from the Big Bang to Black Holes. "Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of very small objects - the size of atoms or smaller - and it provides the only understanding of the world of the very small. In the world of quantum mechanics, the laws of physics that are familiar from the everyday world no longer work. Instead, events are governed by probabilities. During the time of Newton, it was thought that the Universe ran like clockwork, wound up and set in motion by the Creator, down some utterly predictable path. Newton's classical mechanics provided plenty of support for this deterministic view of the Universe, a picture that left little place for human free will or chance. Could it really be that we are all puppets following our own preset tracks through life, with no real choice at all? Most scientists were content to let the philosophers debate that question. But it returned, with full force, at the heart of the new physics of the twentieth century." In Search Of Schrodinger's Cat - John Gribbin Particle Physics is the study of fundamental particles and their properties. Also called high-energy physics, this branch of physics deals with subatomic particles such as photons, electrons, protons, etc. String Theory is an alternative approach to the concept of point particles in particle physics theory. It suggests that the most fundamental constituent of matter is the vibrating string. The most fascinating consequence of this theory is the mathematical discovery of higher dimensional hyperspace. |
Other editions - View all
Understanding the Properties and Behavior of the Cosmos: A Historical ... Don Hainesworth No preview available - 2012 |