| Edition |
2nd ed. |
| Physical description |
1 online resource (xvii, 569 pages) : illustrations |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Contents |
The Origins of Newton's Law of Gravitation -- From Ptolemy to Kepler -- the Copernican revolution -- Galileo and the nature of the physical sciences -- Newton and the law of gravity -- Maxwell's Equations -- The origin of Maxwell's equations -- How to rewrite the history of electromagnetism -- Mechanics and Dynamics -- Linear and Non-linear -- Approaches to mechanics and dynamics -- Dimensional analysis, chaos and self-organised criticality -- Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics -- Basic thermodynamics -- Kinetic theory and the origin of statistical mechanics -- The Origins of the Concept of Quanta -- Black-body radiation up to 1895 -- 1895-1900: Planck and the spectrum of black-body radiation -- Planck's theory of black-body radiation -- Einstein and the quantisation of light -- The triumph of the quantum hypothesis -- Special Relativity -- Special relativity -- a study of invariance -- General Relativity and Cosmology -- An introduction to general relativity -- The technology of cosmology -- Cosmology. |
| Summary |
This second edition of a popular text demonstrates how physics can be appreciated through a series of case studies spanning a complete university physics course. Highlights include three new chapters on Newton's laws (one on ancient astronomy up to the time of Galileo, one on Galileo, and one on Newton); a new chapter on dimensional methods, chaos and self-organized criticality; and a new chapter on the technology of cosmology. Although all the arguments are presented precisely in physical and mathematical terminology, the book is written in a relatively non-technical manner, intended to convey a deep understanding and appreciation of the incredible achievements of theorists in creating the structure of modern physics. |
| Language notes |
English. |
| Subject |
Mathematical physics.
|
| ISBN |
9780511840173 (electronic bk.) |
|
0511840179 (electronic bk.) |
|
9780521821261 (hardback) |
|
0521821266 |
|
9780521528788 (paperback) |
|
052152878X |
|
