Physics: Imagination and RealityPhysics: Imagination and Reality introduces the reader to major ideas and the conceptual structure of modern physics, by tracing its development from the introduction of fields into physics by Faraday and Maxwell in the last century. Because the approach is historical, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the subjects. It should appeal to anyone interested in a basic understanding of the contemporary physicists view of the physical world. It avoids all but the simplest mathematics and presents ideas and concepts in everyday language.Physics: Imagination and Reality attempts to provide educated citizens with an understanding of contemporary physics and, at the same time, shows that its ideas have a grandeur, a challenge to the imagination and an aesthetic appeal which merit its recognition as an integral part of our culture. |
Contents
SCIENCE IN THE MODERN | 1 |
FUNDAMENTALS | 18 |
FARADAY MAXWELL | 50 |
RELATIVITY THE SPECIAL | 71 |
THE GENERAL THEORY | 139 |
COSMOLOGY | 173 |
THE EVOLUTION OF STARS | 203 |
BLACK HOLES | 222 |
THE ROAD TO QUANTUM | 307 |
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES | 336 |
ATOMS MOLECULES | 394 |
PARTICLES | 421 |
THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS | 434 |
THE PHYSICS | 460 |
THE INFLATIONARY | 495 |
APPENDIX An Informal Dialogue Concerning | 511 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acceleration aether angular momentum appear argument beam black hole centre charge classical clock collapse collision constant decay deduce density direction distance earth effect Einstein electric field electromagnetic electron electron volts emitted entropy example exist experiment fact Faraday frame of reference frequency galaxies gluons gravitational field gravitational force heat helium idea imagine increase inertial frame interaction lines of force macroscopic magnetic field mass mathematical matter Maxwell Maxwell's measurement meson million molecules motion moving negative neutrino neutron Newton nuclear nucleons nucleus objects observation orbit particles phenomena phenomenon photon physical world physicists positive possible predicted principle problem proportional pulsar quantity quantum mechanics quantum theory quarks quasars question radiation radius reality redshift relativistic rotation signal simple sort space speed of light spins star strangeness Suppose surface temperature theory of relativity tion uncertainty principle universe velocity wave function wavelength