Great Ideas in PhysicsThe conservation of energy, the second law of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, quantum mechanicstogether, these concepts form the foundation upon which modern physics was built. But the influence of these four landmark ideas has extended far beyond hard science. There is no aspect of twentieth-century cultureincluding the arts, social sciences, philosophy, and politicsthat has not been profoundly influenced by them. In Great Ideas in Physics, Alan Lightman clearly explains the physics behind each of the four great ideas and deftly untangles for lay readers such knotty concepts as entropy, the relativity of time, and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Throughout the book he uses excerpts from the writings of scientific luminaries such as Newton, Kelvin, Einstein, and de Broglie to help place each in its proper historical perspective. And with the help of expertly annotated passages from the works of dozens of writers, philosophers, artists, and social theorists, Lightman explores the two-way influences of these landmark scientific concepts on our entire human culture and the world of ideas. |
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Пользовательский отзыв - LarryGerovac - LibraryThingYou will learn about both big names and some little known names in the world of physics. Laws of energy, units of mass, length, and energy are discussed. This book might be good for teachers that would like to cover a little history as they explain some of the concepts. Читать весь отзыв
Содержание
| 1 | |
| 7 | |
| 9 | |
| 24 | |
Units of Length Mass Weight and Energy | 33 |
Lucretius Section of De Rerum Natura Showing Reasons for Postulating | 36 |
Julius Mayer on the Conservation of Energy 4849 | 48 |
The Conservation of Energy and the Limited Lifetime | 54 |
The Theory of Relativity | 135 |
Aristotle On the Heavens on Space and Absolute Motion | 167 |
Einsteins Approach to Science | 169 |
Relativity and Sculpture | 175 |
Robert Morris on Role of Time in Modern Sculpture | 176 |
The Photoelectric Effect | 188 |
The DoubleSlit Experiment | 196 |
The Role of the Observer and the Nature of Reality | 201 |
Niels Bohr on Giving Up Conservation of Energy to Explain Beta | 56 |
Reversible and Irreversible Phenomena | 62 |
The Irreversible Flow of Heat | 84 |
Lord Kelvin on a Statement of the Second Law of Thermodynamics | 91 |
Entropy and Order | 98 |
Rudolph Clausius on the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics | 100 |
Resistance to the Implications of the Second Law | 104 |
Arthur Holmes from Age of the Earth on Desire for Perpetual Motion | 106 |
Robert Millikan on Cosmic Rays and Their Proof of a Steady State | 108 |
The Second Law Used to Refute the Theory of Evolution | 114 |
Albert Einstein from His Autobiographical Notes Discussing | 122 |
George Berkeley Three Dialogues on Whether Reality Exists Independent | 204 |
Quantum Physics and Language | 207 |
Louis de Broglie Nobel Prize Address on the Wave Nature | 226 |
Selig Hecht on Quantum Theory Free Will and Determinism 239240 | 239 |
APPENDIX A A Review of Some Basic Mathematics | 241 |
APPENDIX B Problems and Discussion Questions | 253 |
Jorge Luis Borges The Garden of the Forking Paths References | 278 |
Laboratory | 283 |
Endnotes | 289 |
Credits | 295 |
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Часто встречающиеся слова и выражения
angle atomic average ball blocks body called Chapter clock completely configuration conservation Consider constant determine direction Discussion Questions distance earth effect Einstein electron equal equation example existence experiment falling feet FIGURE final force frequency given gives gravitational energy heat heat energy height Heisenberg hole human idea incoming increase initial joules kilogram kinetic energy law of thermodynamics length light light ray machine mass means measured mechanics meters molecules momentum motion moving multiplied nature object observer particle pass pattern pendulum photon physicist physics position possible probability PROBLEM produced quantity quantum quantum mechanics relation relativity rest result scientists screen second law sense shade shown in Fig shows side slit space speed spreading Suppose temperature theory things tion total energy train traveling units universe vertical wavelength waves
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Стр. 57 - I have heard rumors that you are on the war path and wanting to upset Conservation of Energy, both microscopically and macroscopically. I will wait and see before expressing an opinion, but I always feel "there are more things in heaven and Earth than are dreamed of in our Philosophy.
Стр. 119 - Hear the sledges with the bells— Silver bells! What a world of merriment their melody foretells! How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night! While the stars, that oversprinkle All the heavens, seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme, To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells,
Стр. 63 - is impossible in inanimate material processes, and is probably never effected by means of organized matter, either endowed with vegetable life or subjected to the will of an animated creature. 3. Within a finite period of time past, the earth must have been, and within a finite period of
Стр. 63 - to come, the earth must again be, unfit for the habitation of man as at present constituted, unless operations have been or are to be performed, which are impossible under the laws to which the known operations going on at present in the material world, are subject.
Стр. 59 - It is impossible, by means of inanimate material agency, to derive mechanical effect from any portion of matter by cooling it below the temperature of the coldest of the surrounding objects.
Стр. 167 - It may be that there is no body really at rest, to which the places and motions of others may be referred. But we may distinguish rest and motion, absolute and relative, one from the other, by their properties, causes, and effects. It is a property of rest that bodies really at rest do rest in respect to one another. And therefore
Стр. 122 - freethinking coupled with the impression that youth is intentionally being deceived by the state through lies; it was a crushing impression. Suspicion against every kind of authority grew out of this experience, a skeptical attitude towards the convictions which were alive in any specific social environment—an attitude which has never again left me.
Стр. 9 - Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, Here earth and water seem to strive again, Not chaos-like together crushed and bruised, But, as the world,
Стр. 237 - wrote Quantum mechanics is very impressive. But an inner voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory produces a great deal but hardly brings us closer to the secret of the Old One.
Стр. 204 - PHIL: This point then is agreed between us—that sensible things are those only which are immediately perceived by sense. You will further inform me whether we immediately perceive by sight anything besides light and colors and figures; or by hearing, anything but
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Библиографические данные
| Название | Great Ideas in Physics |
| Автор | Alan P. Lightman |
| Издание: | 3 |
| Издатель | McGraw Hill Professional, 2000 |
| ISBN | 007137843X, 9780071378437 |
| Количество страниц | Всего страниц: 300 |
| Экспорт цитаты | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |