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兀賮賰丕乇 爻亘毓 賴夭鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲
賴賱 賱賱毓丕賱賲 賰賷丕賳 賲賱賲賵爻 賳丿乇賰賴 亘丨賵丕爻賳丕 兀賲 兀賳 賰賱 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 賳爻亘賷丞責 賴賱 鬲禺囟毓 丕賱賲丕丿丞 賵丕賱夭賲賳 賵丕賱賮囟丕亍 賱賱鬲睾賷乇 兀賲 鬲馗賱 孬丕亘鬲丞 賮賷 噩賲賷毓 兀乇噩丕亍 丕賱賰賵賳責 賴賱 賴賳丕賰 毓賱丕賯丞 鬲乇亘胤 亘賷賳 丕賱賲爻亘亘丕鬲 賵丕賱賳鬲丕卅噩 兀賲 兀賳 亘毓囟 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 鬲丨丿孬 鬲賱賯丕亍 賳賮爻賴丕責 賱賯丿 氐丕睾 丕賱毓賱賲 兀賮賰丕乇賳丕 丕賱兀爻丕爻賷丞 毓賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲貙 賵賱賰賳 禺乇賵噩 賴匕賴 丕賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 廿賱賷 丕賱賳賵乇 賱賲 賷賰賳 賱賷賲乇 丿賵賳 氐毓賵亘丕鬲. 賷爻賱胤 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱囟賵亍 毓賱賷 爻亘毓丞 賲賳 兀賴賲 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 賮賷 賲噩丕賱 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 - 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱鬲賷 丨胤賲鬲 賲丕 賰丕賳 賷爻賱賲 亘賴 丕賱賲匕賴亘賷賵賳 賵丕賱賮賱丕爻賮丞 賵丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 - 賵賷卮乇丨賴丕 亘兀爻賱賵亘 賷噩賲毓 亘賷賳 丕賱亘爻丕胤丞 賵丕賱丕賲鬲丕毓
326 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1985
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賰鬲丕亘冲賲賮鬲賵丨
September 25, 2012賴賱 賱賱毓丕賱賲 賰賷丕賳 賲賱賲賵爻 賳丿乇賰賴 亘丨賵丕爻賳丕 兀賲 兀賳 賰賱 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 賳爻亘賷丞責 賴賱 鬲禺囟毓 丕賱賲丕丿丞 賵丕賱夭賲賳 賵丕賱賮囟丕亍 賱賱鬲睾賷乇 兀賲 鬲馗賱 孬丕亘鬲丞 賮賷 噩賲賷毓 兀乇噩丕亍 丕賱賰賵賳責 賴賱 賴賳丕賰 丿丕卅賲丕 毓賱丕賯丞 鬲乇亘胤 亘賷賳 丕賱賲爻亘亘丕鬲 賵丕賱賳鬲丕卅噩 兀賲 兀賳 亘毓囟 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 鬲丨丿孬 賲賳 鬲賱賯丕亍 賳賮爻賴丕責 賱賯丿 氐丕睾 丕賱毓賱賲 兀賮賰丕乇賳丕 丕賱兀爻丕爻賷丞 毓賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲 鈥� 賵賱賰賳 禺乇賵噩 賴匕賴 丕賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 廿賱賶 丕賱賳賵乇 賱賲 賷賰賳 賷賲乇 丿賵賳 氐毓賵亘丕鬲.
賷爻賱胤 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱囟賵亍 毓賱賶 爻亘毓丞 賲賳 兀賴賲 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 賮賷 賲噩丕賱 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 鈥� 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱鬲賷 丨胤賲鬲 賲丕 賰丕賳 賷爻賱賲 亘賴 丕賱賲匕賴亘賷賵賳 賵丕賱賮賱丕爻賮丞 賵丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 鈥� 賵賷卮乇丨賴丕 亘兀爻賱賵亘 賷噩賲毓 亘賷賳 丕賱亘爻丕胤丞 賵丕賱廿賲鬲丕毓.
賵賱丕 賷丨鬲丕噩 丕賱賯丕乇卅 廿賱賶 賲毓乇賮丞 亘丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲 兀賵 丕賱毓賱賵賲 丨鬲賶 賷爻鬲賲鬲毓 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱乇丕卅毓. 賷亘丨孬 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賮賷 鬲丕乇賷禺 爻亘毓丞 賲賳 兀賴賲 丕賱賲賵囟賵毓丕鬲 賮賷 毓賱賲 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 賵賴賷: 毓賱賲 丕賱賮賱賰 毓賳丿 賰賵亘乇賳賷賰爻貙 賵丕賱賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 毓賳丿 賳賷賵鬲賵賳貙 賵丕賱胤丕賯丞 賵丕賱廿賳鬲乇賵亘賷丕貙 賵丕賱賳爻亘賷丞貙 賵賳馗乇賷丞 丕賱賰賲貙 賵丕賱鬲賲丕孬賱貙 賵賯賵丕賳賷賳 亘賯丕亍 丕賱賲丕丿丞 賵丕賱胤丕賯丞貙 賵賴匕賴 丕賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 賲噩鬲賲毓丞賸 賴賷 丕賱賯丕毓丿丞 賱賮賴賲 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕賷 賳丨賷丕 賮賷賴. 賵賷卮乇丨 丕賱賲丐賱賮丕賳 賳丕孬丕賳 爻亘賷賱亘乇噩 賵亘乇賷賵賳 兀賳丿乇爻賵賳 賰賱丕 賲賳 賴匕賴 丕賱賲賮丕賴賷賲 亘兀爻賱賵亘 賯氐氐賷 賷鬲爻賲 亘丕賱爻賴賵賱丞 賵丕賱亘毓丿 毓賳 丕賱鬲毓賯賷丿貙 丌禺匕賷賳 賮賷 丕賱丕毓鬲亘丕乇 丕賱廿胤丕乇 丕賱夭賲賳賷 賱賰賱 賲賳賴丕貙 孬賲 賷賯賷賽賾賲丕賳 鬲兀孬賷乇 賰賱 賲賳賴丕 賮賷 氐賷丕睾丞 賮賴賲賳丕 賱賱夭賲賳 賵丕賱賮乇丕睾 賵丕賱賲丕丿丞 亘賱 丕賱賵噩賵丿 匕丕鬲賴.
賷噩爻丿 賰鬲丕亘 芦兀賮賰丕乇 爻亘毓 賴夭鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲禄 丕賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賱賲丨亘賷 丕賱毓賱賵賲 賵丕賱賲鬲胤賱毓賷賳 賱賱賲毓乇賮丞.
賷爻賱胤 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱囟賵亍 毓賱賶 爻亘毓丞 賲賳 兀賴賲 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 賮賷 賲噩丕賱 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 鈥� 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱鬲賷 丨胤賲鬲 賲丕 賰丕賳 賷爻賱賲 亘賴 丕賱賲匕賴亘賷賵賳 賵丕賱賮賱丕爻賮丞 賵丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 鈥� 賵賷卮乇丨賴丕 亘兀爻賱賵亘 賷噩賲毓 亘賷賳 丕賱亘爻丕胤丞 賵丕賱廿賲鬲丕毓.
賵賱丕 賷丨鬲丕噩 丕賱賯丕乇卅 廿賱賶 賲毓乇賮丞 亘丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丕鬲 兀賵 丕賱毓賱賵賲 丨鬲賶 賷爻鬲賲鬲毓 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱乇丕卅毓. 賷亘丨孬 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賮賷 鬲丕乇賷禺 爻亘毓丞 賲賳 兀賴賲 丕賱賲賵囟賵毓丕鬲 賮賷 毓賱賲 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 賵賴賷: 毓賱賲 丕賱賮賱賰 毓賳丿 賰賵亘乇賳賷賰爻貙 賵丕賱賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 毓賳丿 賳賷賵鬲賵賳貙 賵丕賱胤丕賯丞 賵丕賱廿賳鬲乇賵亘賷丕貙 賵丕賱賳爻亘賷丞貙 賵賳馗乇賷丞 丕賱賰賲貙 賵丕賱鬲賲丕孬賱貙 賵賯賵丕賳賷賳 亘賯丕亍 丕賱賲丕丿丞 賵丕賱胤丕賯丞貙 賵賴匕賴 丕賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 賲噩鬲賲毓丞賸 賴賷 丕賱賯丕毓丿丞 賱賮賴賲 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕賷 賳丨賷丕 賮賷賴. 賵賷卮乇丨 丕賱賲丐賱賮丕賳 賳丕孬丕賳 爻亘賷賱亘乇噩 賵亘乇賷賵賳 兀賳丿乇爻賵賳 賰賱丕 賲賳 賴匕賴 丕賱賲賮丕賴賷賲 亘兀爻賱賵亘 賯氐氐賷 賷鬲爻賲 亘丕賱爻賴賵賱丞 賵丕賱亘毓丿 毓賳 丕賱鬲毓賯賷丿貙 丌禺匕賷賳 賮賷 丕賱丕毓鬲亘丕乇 丕賱廿胤丕乇 丕賱夭賲賳賷 賱賰賱 賲賳賴丕貙 孬賲 賷賯賷賽賾賲丕賳 鬲兀孬賷乇 賰賱 賲賳賴丕 賮賷 氐賷丕睾丞 賮賴賲賳丕 賱賱夭賲賳 賵丕賱賮乇丕睾 賵丕賱賲丕丿丞 亘賱 丕賱賵噩賵丿 匕丕鬲賴.
賷噩爻丿 賰鬲丕亘 芦兀賮賰丕乇 爻亘毓 賴夭鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲禄 丕賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賱賲丨亘賷 丕賱毓賱賵賲 賵丕賱賲鬲胤賱毓賷賳 賱賱賲毓乇賮丞.
September 25, 2015
賷爻鬲毓乇囟 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 爻賷乇 鬲胤賵乇 爻亘毓 兀賮賰丕乇 賲丨賵乇賷丞 賮賷 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 賵賴賷 :
佟- 賲乇賰夭賷丞 丕賱卮賲爻 賮賷 賲噩乇鬲賳丕- 賱丕 丕賱兀乇囟 賰賲丕 賰丕賳 爻丕卅丿丕賸 賵賲丿毓賵賲丕賸 亘兀賮賰丕乇 丿賷賳賷丞.
佗- 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 賳賷賵鬲賳 -賵丕賱賯丿乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲賳亘賵亍 亘賲氐賷乇 丕賱賰賵賳 亘丿賯丞
伲-賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱胤丕賯丞 -賵丕賱鬲胤賵乇 賮賷 賮賴賲 丕賱丨乇丕乇丞 賲賳 賲丕卅毓 丕賱賶 卮賰賱 賲賳 丕卮賰丕賱 丕賱胤丕賯丞
伽- 丕賱丕賳鬲乇賵亘賷丕- 賵賲氐賷乇 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕賷 賷亘丿賵 丕賳賴 賷鬲噩賴 丕賱賶 賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賮賵囟賶
佶- 丕賱賳爻亘賷丞- 鬲丨丿賷丿 賲丕賴賵 孬丕亘鬲 賵賲丕賴賵 賳爻亘賷
佴- 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 丕賱賰賲 -賱賱兀爻賮 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賱鬲賳亘賵亍 亘賲氐賷乇賴 賷丕 賳賷賵鬲賳!
侑- 賲亘丕丿卅 丕賱丨賮馗 賵丕賱鬲賲丕孬賱丕鬲
噩賲賷賱 賲賱丕丨馗丞 丕賱鬲丿丕禺賱 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賵賮賱爻賮丕鬲 丕賱毓氐乇貙 賮賷賮乇丨 賲賳 賷乇賶 亘丕賱賳爻亘賷丞 丕賱丕禺賱丕賯賷丞 亘賳爻亘賷丞 丕賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 賵賷丿毓賲 乇兀賷賴 亘賴丕 ( 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱匕賷 賱賲 賷乇囟賷 丨鬲賶 丕賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 賳賮爻賴!)
賵賷丨鬲賮賱 丕賱賲丐賲賳賵賳 亘丨乇賷丞 丕賱丕禺鬲賷丕乇 亘賳鬲丕卅噩 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 丕賱賰賲 丕賱鬲賷 賷毓鬲賯丿賵賳 丕賳賴丕 鬲賯賮 亘氐賮賴賲.
丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賲鬲毓 噩丿丕賸 賱賲丨亘賷 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍貙 賵賱賰賳 鬲丨鬲丕噩 賱禺賱賮賷丞 賮賷夭賷丕卅賷丞 亘爻賷胤丞 丨鬲賶 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 賲賵丕氐賱丞 賮賴賲賴 賵丕賱丕爻鬲賲鬲丕毓 亘賴.
佟- 賲乇賰夭賷丞 丕賱卮賲爻 賮賷 賲噩乇鬲賳丕- 賱丕 丕賱兀乇囟 賰賲丕 賰丕賳 爻丕卅丿丕賸 賵賲丿毓賵賲丕賸 亘兀賮賰丕乇 丿賷賳賷丞.
佗- 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 賳賷賵鬲賳 -賵丕賱賯丿乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲賳亘賵亍 亘賲氐賷乇 丕賱賰賵賳 亘丿賯丞
伲-賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱胤丕賯丞 -賵丕賱鬲胤賵乇 賮賷 賮賴賲 丕賱丨乇丕乇丞 賲賳 賲丕卅毓 丕賱賶 卮賰賱 賲賳 丕卮賰丕賱 丕賱胤丕賯丞
伽- 丕賱丕賳鬲乇賵亘賷丕- 賵賲氐賷乇 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕賷 賷亘丿賵 丕賳賴 賷鬲噩賴 丕賱賶 賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賮賵囟賶
佶- 丕賱賳爻亘賷丞- 鬲丨丿賷丿 賲丕賴賵 孬丕亘鬲 賵賲丕賴賵 賳爻亘賷
佴- 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 丕賱賰賲 -賱賱兀爻賮 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賱鬲賳亘賵亍 亘賲氐賷乇賴 賷丕 賳賷賵鬲賳!
侑- 賲亘丕丿卅 丕賱丨賮馗 賵丕賱鬲賲丕孬賱丕鬲
噩賲賷賱 賲賱丕丨馗丞 丕賱鬲丿丕禺賱 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賵賮賱爻賮丕鬲 丕賱毓氐乇貙 賮賷賮乇丨 賲賳 賷乇賶 亘丕賱賳爻亘賷丞 丕賱丕禺賱丕賯賷丞 亘賳爻亘賷丞 丕賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 賵賷丿毓賲 乇兀賷賴 亘賴丕 ( 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱匕賷 賱賲 賷乇囟賷 丨鬲賶 丕賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 賳賮爻賴!)
賵賷丨鬲賮賱 丕賱賲丐賲賳賵賳 亘丨乇賷丞 丕賱丕禺鬲賷丕乇 亘賳鬲丕卅噩 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰丕 丕賱賰賲 丕賱鬲賷 賷毓鬲賯丿賵賳 丕賳賴丕 鬲賯賮 亘氐賮賴賲.
丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賲鬲毓 噩丿丕賸 賱賲丨亘賷 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍貙 賵賱賰賳 鬲丨鬲丕噩 賱禺賱賮賷丞 賮賷夭賷丕卅賷丞 亘爻賷胤丞 丨鬲賶 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 賲賵丕氐賱丞 賮賴賲賴 賵丕賱丕爻鬲賲鬲丕毓 亘賴.
August 22, 2018
賱賲 賷賰賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱匕賷 鬲賵賯毓鬲賴 賮賴賵 噩丕賮 噩丿丕 賵禺氐賵氐丕 賱睾賷乇 丕賱賲鬲禺氐氐賷賳 爻賷噩丿賵賳 氐毓賵亘丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲毓丕賲賱 賲毓 賰賱 丕賱丕賮賰丕乇 丕賱鬲賷 賮賷賴
June 24, 2018
Scientific revolutions are often like political revolutions. A previous paradigm has to give way to new forces or ideas that attempt to correct or improve upon (or flat out replace) what has come before. Rejecting a comfortable if inaccurate system is not easy. But it happens throughout history and usually is an improvement. This dramatic sweep of change is the central conceit behind Seven Ideas that Shook the Universe. Nathan Spielberg and Bryon Anderson go through seven fundamental changes or advancements (sometimes the change is just adding onto what came before) in science. They have a flair for the dramatic (hence the hyperbolic book title) and communicate the ideas within their historical context. This helps the reader to understand what's so revolutionary about the idea and how the idea is an advancement on what came before. The book is very readable, though later chapters are more challenging. Here are the seven ideas:
1. Copernican Astronomy--Starting from the ancient Greeks (who used data from the Egyptians and Mesopotamians), the authors look at the shift from a geocentric to a heliocentric view of the solar system. The Greeks were aware of both theories but favored the geocentric; their opinion was dominant for 1800 years until seriously questioned by Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish astronomer working in the early 1500s. He published his heliocentric theory as a theory that made calculating calendars and planetary positions easier, even though not more accurate, than the Ptolemaic theory dominant since circa AD 150. As data collection grew more thorough and more accurate (the telescope wasn't invented until the early 1600s), the heliocentric theory gained more traction, though it still didn't achieve universal acceptance until Newtonian Mechanics came along.
2. Newtonian Mechanics and Causality--Galileo worked out all sorts of information about the acceleration of falling objects (even if he probably didn't drop stones from the Leaning Tower of Pisa). He also recognized the principle of inertia, that an object in motion will stay in that same motion until something else acts upon it. The day after Galileo died, Isaac Newton was born. He was a brilliant mathematician who used both inductive reasoning (using data and experiments to reach conclusions) and deductive reasoning (using principles to reach conclusions) to work out a simplified and unified system that explains all forms of motion, from planetary interactions to horses drawing carts. His three laws of motion, along with laws on conservation of mass and momentum and his universal law of gravitation, described motion in the universe almost perfectly. He inspired other scientists to build on his work or to look for fundamental laws in other fields of human knowledge (like economics or sociology). His system gave rise to the idea of a clockwork universe, where everything is interconnected and predictable, given enough information.
3. The Energy Concept--One component of reality that Newton's system didn't fully explain was energy. His laws cover motion, which is like kinetic energy. His system does not explain potential energy or heat. With the advent of the steam engine in the 1700s, scientists worked on a theory to explain how heat works. The popular theory at the time was that heat was a caloric fluid inseparable from items that had it. The theory couldn't explain everything, especially in the case of friction. Two hands rubbing together produce heat without a heat source, so how can caloric fluid transfer? British physicist James Joule devised an experiment in the 1840s that shifted thinking from the caloric-fluid model to one based on movement of molecules, the accepted theory today.
4. Entropy and Probability--In making heat engines more efficient, scientists discovered another principle--entropy. No engine is perfectly efficient, converting heat energy into equivalent work. There's always some energy that radiates off or is "lost" somewhere in the process. Entropy is not a thing in itself; rather, it is a parameter measuring the internal energy state of a system. Oddly enough, the more entropy a system has, the less energy is available to transform into other forms of energy (kinetic, potential, radiant, etc.). The energy falls into a more disordered state and the process cannot be reversed. If applied on the largest scale, i.e. assuming the universe is a closed system, eventually the energy of the universe will be less and less available until it reaches a maximal state of disorder and dispersion and life is no longer viable. Such a process will take a long time, much longer than our lifetimes.
5. Relativity--The discovery of relativity started with Galileo and Newton. Newton gave definitions of "absolute" space and time but recognized that in different frames of reference, different measurements were possible. With further discoveries about the nature of light and electromagnetism in the 19th century, new interest in determining the absolute speed gave rise to a variety of experiments to detect ether. Ether was thought to be the medium through which electromagnetic waves traveled. All attempts to detect ether failed, eventually leading scientists to work out a theory of special relativity, in which there is no way to explain the medium through which electromagnetic waves travel, rendering ether into a meaningless concept. Albert Einstein was the first to publish the theory, though other scientists were close. Einstein was far ahead of others when he published his theory of general relativity, applying the principles of accelerated frames of reference as well as inertial frames of reference. (If you want to understand the difference, you'll have to read the book because I just barely grasp it and thus can't summarize it here).
6. Quantum Theory and the End of Causality--Much like the title of the book, this chapter's title is a bit of hyperbole. Quantum Theory isn't so much the end of causality as it is the end of certitude. According to Newtonian mechanics (i.e. classical physics), if one knows the position and motion of every object in the universe than every last thing is predictable, i.e. we live in a strictly clockwork universe. Quantum Theory, in an attempt to explain anomalies that arise with classical physics in extreme cases (extreme temperatures or extremely small sizes), applies wave theory to matter as well as to energy. But the application has ambiguity, because the subatomic particles of matter are so small that any attempt to measure their position or velocity will alter that position or velocity, rendering the data collected not so objective as science demands. The book gives a fairly good description of how Quantum Theory is applied in other fields of human knowledge (sociology, economics, etc.) and how the analogy between fields of knowledge can be helpful or unhelpful in grasping concepts. There's also an interesting discussion of how helpful models are in explaining scientific theories. Quantum Mechanics has brought many scientists to the point of rejecting models and instead using mathematical formulas in the interest of having a more accurate description of reality.
7. Conservation Principles and Symmetries--When scientists got to the point of studying the particles that make up the nucleus of an atom, they discovered that the conservation principles recognized since Newton still apply even on the sub-nuclear level (even smaller than the sub-atomic level!). New principles had to be added to explain observed characteristics of sub-nuclear particles. These principles include the groupings of particle families in symmetrical patterns. The authors then describe the quark model that is accepted by scientists as a correct understanding of sub-atomic reality.
The book is very well written. The science is not dry and technical (for the most part). The authors also write about the impact of scientific discoveries on other fields of human knowledge. Providing both the history and the context of physics makes it a much more accessible subject.
The version of the book I read is the first edition, published in 1987. A second edition was published in 1995 with updated material and a third edition in 2006 which according to Amazon is not available. Maybe if it is reprinted I will get it. From what I've read online, it looks like this text is used widely as a "history of physics" survey. Naturally, a lot has changed in thirty years for the final chapter, so it is probably the part that had the most updating with new information.
Highly recommended, even with thirty-year-old information!
1. Copernican Astronomy--Starting from the ancient Greeks (who used data from the Egyptians and Mesopotamians), the authors look at the shift from a geocentric to a heliocentric view of the solar system. The Greeks were aware of both theories but favored the geocentric; their opinion was dominant for 1800 years until seriously questioned by Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish astronomer working in the early 1500s. He published his heliocentric theory as a theory that made calculating calendars and planetary positions easier, even though not more accurate, than the Ptolemaic theory dominant since circa AD 150. As data collection grew more thorough and more accurate (the telescope wasn't invented until the early 1600s), the heliocentric theory gained more traction, though it still didn't achieve universal acceptance until Newtonian Mechanics came along.
2. Newtonian Mechanics and Causality--Galileo worked out all sorts of information about the acceleration of falling objects (even if he probably didn't drop stones from the Leaning Tower of Pisa). He also recognized the principle of inertia, that an object in motion will stay in that same motion until something else acts upon it. The day after Galileo died, Isaac Newton was born. He was a brilliant mathematician who used both inductive reasoning (using data and experiments to reach conclusions) and deductive reasoning (using principles to reach conclusions) to work out a simplified and unified system that explains all forms of motion, from planetary interactions to horses drawing carts. His three laws of motion, along with laws on conservation of mass and momentum and his universal law of gravitation, described motion in the universe almost perfectly. He inspired other scientists to build on his work or to look for fundamental laws in other fields of human knowledge (like economics or sociology). His system gave rise to the idea of a clockwork universe, where everything is interconnected and predictable, given enough information.
3. The Energy Concept--One component of reality that Newton's system didn't fully explain was energy. His laws cover motion, which is like kinetic energy. His system does not explain potential energy or heat. With the advent of the steam engine in the 1700s, scientists worked on a theory to explain how heat works. The popular theory at the time was that heat was a caloric fluid inseparable from items that had it. The theory couldn't explain everything, especially in the case of friction. Two hands rubbing together produce heat without a heat source, so how can caloric fluid transfer? British physicist James Joule devised an experiment in the 1840s that shifted thinking from the caloric-fluid model to one based on movement of molecules, the accepted theory today.
4. Entropy and Probability--In making heat engines more efficient, scientists discovered another principle--entropy. No engine is perfectly efficient, converting heat energy into equivalent work. There's always some energy that radiates off or is "lost" somewhere in the process. Entropy is not a thing in itself; rather, it is a parameter measuring the internal energy state of a system. Oddly enough, the more entropy a system has, the less energy is available to transform into other forms of energy (kinetic, potential, radiant, etc.). The energy falls into a more disordered state and the process cannot be reversed. If applied on the largest scale, i.e. assuming the universe is a closed system, eventually the energy of the universe will be less and less available until it reaches a maximal state of disorder and dispersion and life is no longer viable. Such a process will take a long time, much longer than our lifetimes.
5. Relativity--The discovery of relativity started with Galileo and Newton. Newton gave definitions of "absolute" space and time but recognized that in different frames of reference, different measurements were possible. With further discoveries about the nature of light and electromagnetism in the 19th century, new interest in determining the absolute speed gave rise to a variety of experiments to detect ether. Ether was thought to be the medium through which electromagnetic waves traveled. All attempts to detect ether failed, eventually leading scientists to work out a theory of special relativity, in which there is no way to explain the medium through which electromagnetic waves travel, rendering ether into a meaningless concept. Albert Einstein was the first to publish the theory, though other scientists were close. Einstein was far ahead of others when he published his theory of general relativity, applying the principles of accelerated frames of reference as well as inertial frames of reference. (If you want to understand the difference, you'll have to read the book because I just barely grasp it and thus can't summarize it here).
6. Quantum Theory and the End of Causality--Much like the title of the book, this chapter's title is a bit of hyperbole. Quantum Theory isn't so much the end of causality as it is the end of certitude. According to Newtonian mechanics (i.e. classical physics), if one knows the position and motion of every object in the universe than every last thing is predictable, i.e. we live in a strictly clockwork universe. Quantum Theory, in an attempt to explain anomalies that arise with classical physics in extreme cases (extreme temperatures or extremely small sizes), applies wave theory to matter as well as to energy. But the application has ambiguity, because the subatomic particles of matter are so small that any attempt to measure their position or velocity will alter that position or velocity, rendering the data collected not so objective as science demands. The book gives a fairly good description of how Quantum Theory is applied in other fields of human knowledge (sociology, economics, etc.) and how the analogy between fields of knowledge can be helpful or unhelpful in grasping concepts. There's also an interesting discussion of how helpful models are in explaining scientific theories. Quantum Mechanics has brought many scientists to the point of rejecting models and instead using mathematical formulas in the interest of having a more accurate description of reality.
7. Conservation Principles and Symmetries--When scientists got to the point of studying the particles that make up the nucleus of an atom, they discovered that the conservation principles recognized since Newton still apply even on the sub-nuclear level (even smaller than the sub-atomic level!). New principles had to be added to explain observed characteristics of sub-nuclear particles. These principles include the groupings of particle families in symmetrical patterns. The authors then describe the quark model that is accepted by scientists as a correct understanding of sub-atomic reality.
The book is very well written. The science is not dry and technical (for the most part). The authors also write about the impact of scientific discoveries on other fields of human knowledge. Providing both the history and the context of physics makes it a much more accessible subject.
The version of the book I read is the first edition, published in 1987. A second edition was published in 1995 with updated material and a third edition in 2006 which according to Amazon is not available. Maybe if it is reprinted I will get it. From what I've read online, it looks like this text is used widely as a "history of physics" survey. Naturally, a lot has changed in thirty years for the final chapter, so it is probably the part that had the most updating with new information.
Highly recommended, even with thirty-year-old information!
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August 17, 2014卮乇丨 乇丕卅毓 賱賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱兀賵賱賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 氐丿賲鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲 亘丿丕賷丞 丕胤賱丕賯賴丕 賵賰賷賮 賯丕賲 丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 丕賱賱丕丨賯賵賳 亘鬲胤賵賷乇賴丕 .兀毓噩亘賳賷 丕爻賱賵亘 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱賲鬲爻賱爻賱 賵丕賱賲賳馗賲 賵賱賰賳 丕毓賷亘 毓賱賷賴 賯賱丞 丕賱兀賲孬賱丞 賵 毓丿賲 匕賰乇 賲丿賶 丕賱丕爻鬲賮丕丿丞 丕賱毓賲賱賷丞 賲賳 鬲胤賵乇丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 賵鬲胤亘賷賯丕鬲賴丕 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賳丕 丕賱賷賵賲賷丞.賷鬲賵爻毓 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 噩丿丕賸 賮賷 卮乇丨 丌禺乇 賲丕 鬲賵氐賱 丕賱賷賴 丕賱毓賱賲 賮賷 賰賱 賮賰乇丞 賲賳 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 亘卮賰賱 乇丕卅毓 賵賯丿 賲賷賾夭 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀賳賴 賷氐賱丨 賱賱賯乇丕亍丞 賱賲賳 賷亘丨孬 毓賳 孬賯丕賮丞 毓丕賲賾丞 賰賲丕 賷賳丕爻亘 亘鬲賮丕氐賷賱賴 丕賱賰孬賷乇丞 兀氐丨丕亘 丕賱丕禺鬲氐丕氐丕鬲 賵丕賱賲賷賵賱 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 .兀賮丕丿賳賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 亘鬲亘爻賷胤 賲丕 賷禺鬲氐 亘丕賱賰賵丕乇賰丕鬲 賵丕賱胤丕賯丞 丕賱賰賴乇賵賲睾賳丕胤賷爻賷丞 賵丕賱丕賳卮胤丕乇丕鬲 丕賱賳賵賵賷丞.賰鬲丕亘 賯賷賾賲 賱丕 賷賯丿乇 噩賴丿 丕賱賰丕鬲亘賷賳 亘孬賲賳 .賮兀賳 鬲賲賱兀 300 氐賮丨丞 賲賳 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 賵 鬲賮賳賷丿賴丕 賵丕賮賰丕乇 毓賱賲賷丞 賷胤賵賱 卮乇丨賴丕 丕賳噩丕夭 賰亘賷乇 丿丕賮毓賴 丕賱賯乇賷亘 賳卮乇 丕賱賵毓賷 丕賱毓賱賲賷 賵丿丕賮毓賴 丕賱亘毓賷丿 鬲賵孬賷賯 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱毓賱賲賷 賱賱噩賳爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷.
April 29, 2014
賰鬲丕亘 毓乇囟 丕賴賲 爻亘毓 丕賮賰丕乇 睾賷乇鬲 賲噩乇賶 丕賱毓賱賲 賵賰丕賳鬲 賰賱賴丕 鬲亘丨孬 賮賷 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍
亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賯丕乇卅 睾賷乇 賲鬲禺氐氐 賰丕锟斤拷 睾賷乇 賲賳 丕賱囟乇賵乇賷 匕賰乇 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱賮賰乇丞 賳賮爻賴丕 賵賰賷賮 鬲胤賵乇鬲 丕亘鬲丿丕亍 賲賳 丨丿賷孬 丕賱丕睾乇賷賯 毓賳賴丕 賵丕賱賶 賲丕 丌丕賱鬲 丕賱賷賴 丨丿賷孬丕
賱丕亘兀爻 亘賴
亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賯丕乇卅 睾賷乇 賲鬲禺氐氐 賰丕锟斤拷 睾賷乇 賲賳 丕賱囟乇賵乇賷 匕賰乇 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱賮賰乇丞 賳賮爻賴丕 賵賰賷賮 鬲胤賵乇鬲 丕亘鬲丿丕亍 賲賳 丨丿賷孬 丕賱丕睾乇賷賯 毓賳賴丕 賵丕賱賶 賲丕 丌丕賱鬲 丕賱賷賴 丨丿賷孬丕
賱丕亘兀爻 亘賴
February 22, 2014
丕賱賳爻禺丞 丕賱廿賱賰鬲乇賵賳賷丞 賱賱賰鬲丕亘 睾賷乇 賰丕賲賱丞.. 賱賲 兀爻鬲胤毓 廿賰賲丕賱賴 賱賱兀爻賮
February 28, 2017
賰鬲丕亘 乇丕卅毓 賷丨賵賷 丕丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 乇睾賲 兀賳 亘毓囟賴丕 賲毓賯丿 亘毓囟 丕賱卮賷亍 .
賱賰賳 丕賱鬲爻賱爻賱 丕賱賲賳賴噩賷 賱胤乇丨 丕賱賲賵丕囟賷毓 賯丿 爻丕毓丿 賰孬賷乇丕 賮賷 鬲賵氐賷賱 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賲賮丕賴賷賲 丕賱賲毓賯丿丞 .
賱賰賳 丕賱鬲爻賱爻賱 丕賱賲賳賴噩賷 賱胤乇丨 丕賱賲賵丕囟賷毓 賯丿 爻丕毓丿 賰孬賷乇丕 賮賷 鬲賵氐賷賱 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賲賮丕賴賷賲 丕賱賲毓賯丿丞 .
January 6, 2025
丕賳賴丕 丕賱賲乇丞 丕賱丕賵賱賶 丕賱鬲賶 丕賯乇兀 亘賴丕 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱賰賳 賱丕 丕馗賳 丕賳賴丕 賰丕賮賷賴! 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賷卮乇丨 亘毓囟 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱丕爻丕爻丕賷丞 丕賱鬲賶 賯丕卅賲 毓賱賷賴丕 毓丕賱賲賳丕 丕賱丕賳 賰賲丕 賳馗賳貙 亘丕賱廿囟丕賮丞 賱亘毓囟 丕賱賱賲丨丕鬲 毓賳 丨賷丕丞 丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 貙 賵賰賷賮 丕孬乇 匕賱賰 毓賱賶 毓賱賵賲賴賲 貙 丕爻鬲賲鬲毓鬲 亘賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱賰賳 賱丕 丕馗賳 丕賳賴 爻賴賱 賱賴匕賴 丕賱丿乇噩丞! 賷丨鬲丕噩 亘毓囟 丕賱鬲乇賰賷夭 賱匕丕 丕馗賳 丕賳 賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕丨丿賴 賱賴 賱賳 鬲丨氐賱 丕賰亘乇 丕爻鬲賮丕丿丞
June 1, 2023
賲卮 丕噩賲賱 丨丕噩丞 鬲賯乇兀賴丕 丿丕 睾賷乇 兀鬲賴 丕爻賱賵亘丞 噩丕賮 賮賷 丕賱胤乇丨
February 7, 2017
賯亘賱 丕賳 丕亘丿兀 賴匕賴 丕賱賲乇丕噩毓丞 兀毓鬲賯丿 丕賳賷 賱賲 兀毓丿賱 賰孬賷乇丕 賮賷賴丕 賱兀爻亘丕亘 毓丿賴 賲賳賴丕 兀賳賷 爻丕亘賯丕 賯乇兀鬲 賰鬲亘 賰孬賷乇丞 賮賷 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 賱匕賱賰 爻鬲賰賵賳 丕賱賲乇丕噩毓丞 賲賯丕乇賳丞 亘丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱兀禺乇賶.
兀馗賳 兀賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 廿爻鬲禺丿賲 兀爻賱賵亘 賲賳賴噩賷 賯丕爻賽 賱爻乇丿 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱爻亘毓丞 賲賲丕 噩毓賱 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 孬賯賷賱 毓賱賶 丕賱賯丕乇卅 賳丕賴賷賰 毓賳 孬賯賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賮廿賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賳 兀孬賯賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱鬲賷 賯乇兀鬲 賵兀馗賳 兀賳賷 丨鬲賲丕 賱賲 兀爻鬲賲鬲毓 亘丕賱賯乇丕亍丞. 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賱賷亍 亘丕賱丨卮賵 賵賰兀賳賴 賲賳賴噩 賮賷夭賷丕亍 噩丕賲毓賷 亘賱 賵丨鬲賶 兀賳賷 廿囟胤乇乇鬲 賱賯賮夭 亘毓囟 丕賱賮氐賵賱 亘爻亘亘 兀賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賷胤乇丨 賲噩乇丿 兀賮賰丕乇 賵丌乇丕亍 賵賱賲 賷胤乇丨 丕賱兀賲孬賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲爻賴賱 賮賴賲 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱氐毓亘丞 賮廿賳賷 兀賯鬲乇丨 丕賳 賷爻鬲毓賲賱 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賰賲氐丿乇.
兀賷囟丕 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕卅賷丞 賲丕賱賮丕卅丿丞 賲賳 匕賰乇 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賵鬲丕乇賷禺賴丕 賮賷 丨丕賱 兀賳賳丕 毓乇賮賳丕 兀賳賴丕 賯丕氐乇丞 賰賲丕 賯丕賱 兀賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 毓賳 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丞 兀賳賴丕 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 兀賳 鬲氐賲賲 賱賰 賲賳夭賱 賵賱賰賳賴丕 賱丕鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 兀賳 鬲賮爻乇 賱賰 丨乇賰丞 丕賱賰賵丕賰亘 賮賷 丕賱賮囟丕亍 賵賱賰賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賴賳丕 丨丕賵賱 鬲亘乇賷乇 匕賱賰 亘賯賵賱賴"兀賳 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賱賴丕 噩夭亍 賲毓賷賳 賲賳 丕賱卮乇毓賷丞 賵賰孬賷乇丕 賲丕鬲賰賵賳 賲賮賷丿丞 噩丿丕 賵賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱丨丿賷孬丞 賲亘賳賷丞 毓賱賷賴丕" 氐佗伲侉
丕賳丕 亘丿賵乇賷 賱賲 兀賯鬲賳毓 賰孬賷乇丕 亘賴匕丕 丕賱鬲亘乇賷乇 賱兀賳賷 賰賯丕乇卅 賲賴鬲賲 亘毓賱賲 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 賱丕 兀乇賷丿 兀賳 兀亘賳賷 賲賳夭賱丕 廿賳賲丕 兀乇賷丿 丕賳 兀毓乇賮 賰賷賮 鬲鬲丨乇賰 丕賱賰賵丕賰亘..
賰賷 賱丕 兀馗賱賲 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀賵丿 兀賳 兀孬賳賷 毓賱賶 噩賵丿丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賵鬲賯爻賷賲賴 丕賱噩賷丿 賵鬲賳爻賷賯賴 丕賱乇丕卅毓 丕賱匕賷 兀賲鬲毓賳賷 賰孬賷乇丕 賵賷丨爻亘 賱賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賵賷賲賷夭賴..
乇亘賲丕 兀賷囟丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀囟丕賮 賱賷 亘毓囟 丕賱卮賷亍 賮賷 賳馗乇賷丞 丕賱賰賲 賵賳爻亘賷丞 廿賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 賵賰丕賳 卮乇丨 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賮賷賴丕 噩賷丿 賵賲賲鬲毓 賯賱賷賱丕
賱丕 兀賳氐丨 兀亘丿賸丕 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀賳氐丨 兀賳 賷賯乇兀 丕賱卮禺氐 賮賷 賰賱 賲賳 賴丕賱丕賮賰丕乇 毓賱賶 丨丿賶 丕賵 乇亘賲丕 鬲噩丿 賰鬲丕亘 兀賮囟賱 賲賳賴丕 賵賷賱禺氐 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 亘胤乇賷賯丞 兀賮囟賱..
賵丕賱睾賱丕賮 兀毓賱丕賴 賷賳賯氐賴 氐賵乇丞 亘賱丕賳賰
兀馗賳 兀賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 廿爻鬲禺丿賲 兀爻賱賵亘 賲賳賴噩賷 賯丕爻賽 賱爻乇丿 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱爻亘毓丞 賲賲丕 噩毓賱 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 孬賯賷賱 毓賱賶 丕賱賯丕乇卅 賳丕賴賷賰 毓賳 孬賯賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱毓賱賲賷丞 賮廿賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賳 兀孬賯賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱鬲賷 賯乇兀鬲 賵兀馗賳 兀賳賷 丨鬲賲丕 賱賲 兀爻鬲賲鬲毓 亘丕賱賯乇丕亍丞. 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲賱賷亍 亘丕賱丨卮賵 賵賰兀賳賴 賲賳賴噩 賮賷夭賷丕亍 噩丕賲毓賷 亘賱 賵丨鬲賶 兀賳賷 廿囟胤乇乇鬲 賱賯賮夭 亘毓囟 丕賱賮氐賵賱 亘爻亘亘 兀賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賷胤乇丨 賲噩乇丿 兀賮賰丕乇 賵丌乇丕亍 賵賱賲 賷胤乇丨 丕賱兀賲孬賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲爻賴賱 賮賴賲 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱氐毓亘丞 賮廿賳賷 兀賯鬲乇丨 丕賳 賷爻鬲毓賲賱 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賰賲氐丿乇.
兀賷囟丕 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕卅賷丞 賲丕賱賮丕卅丿丞 賲賳 匕賰乇 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賵鬲丕乇賷禺賴丕 賮賷 丨丕賱 兀賳賳丕 毓乇賮賳丕 兀賳賴丕 賯丕氐乇丞 賰賲丕 賯丕賱 兀賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 毓賳 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丞 兀賳賴丕 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 兀賳 鬲氐賲賲 賱賰 賲賳夭賱 賵賱賰賳賴丕 賱丕鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 兀賳 鬲賮爻乇 賱賰 丨乇賰丞 丕賱賰賵丕賰亘 賮賷 丕賱賮囟丕亍 賵賱賰賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賴賳丕 丨丕賵賱 鬲亘乇賷乇 匕賱賰 亘賯賵賱賴"兀賳 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賱賴丕 噩夭亍 賲毓賷賳 賲賳 丕賱卮乇毓賷丞 賵賰孬賷乇丕 賲丕鬲賰賵賳 賲賮賷丿丞 噩丿丕 賵賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱丨丿賷孬丞 賲亘賳賷丞 毓賱賷賴丕" 氐佗伲侉
丕賳丕 亘丿賵乇賷 賱賲 兀賯鬲賳毓 賰孬賷乇丕 亘賴匕丕 丕賱鬲亘乇賷乇 賱兀賳賷 賰賯丕乇卅 賲賴鬲賲 亘毓賱賲 丕賱賮賷夭賷丕亍 賱丕 兀乇賷丿 兀賳 兀亘賳賷 賲賳夭賱丕 廿賳賲丕 兀乇賷丿 丕賳 兀毓乇賮 賰賷賮 鬲鬲丨乇賰 丕賱賰賵丕賰亘..
賰賷 賱丕 兀馗賱賲 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀賵丿 兀賳 兀孬賳賷 毓賱賶 噩賵丿丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賵鬲賯爻賷賲賴 丕賱噩賷丿 賵鬲賳爻賷賯賴 丕賱乇丕卅毓 丕賱匕賷 兀賲鬲毓賳賷 賰孬賷乇丕 賵賷丨爻亘 賱賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賵賷賲賷夭賴..
乇亘賲丕 兀賷囟丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀囟丕賮 賱賷 亘毓囟 丕賱卮賷亍 賮賷 賳馗乇賷丞 丕賱賰賲 賵賳爻亘賷丞 廿賷賳卮鬲丕賷賳 賵賰丕賳 卮乇丨 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賮賷賴丕 噩賷丿 賵賲賲鬲毓 賯賱賷賱丕
賱丕 兀賳氐丨 兀亘丿賸丕 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀賳氐丨 兀賳 賷賯乇兀 丕賱卮禺氐 賮賷 賰賱 賲賳 賴丕賱丕賮賰丕乇 毓賱賶 丨丿賶 丕賵 乇亘賲丕 鬲噩丿 賰鬲丕亘 兀賮囟賱 賲賳賴丕 賵賷賱禺氐 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 亘胤乇賷賯丞 兀賮囟賱..
賵丕賱睾賱丕賮 兀毓賱丕賴 賷賳賯氐賴 氐賵乇丞 亘賱丕賳賰
October 24, 2008
Book was a bit dated (I see that there's another edition available), but the content is historical. It was interesting to learn more about the "behind-the-scenes" of the physical concepts I learned in school. The theories of physics were presented in a clean, straightforward manner as if the early scientific revolutionaries were on a linear track of disovery. But, in reality, they meandered through, sometimes completely misunderstanding their discovery because they were looking for something else. The early scientists were attempting to connect the philisophical and religious ideas to nature, so some of their interpretations and theories were pretty confused. Interesting stuff.
August 22, 2012
I thought this was a pretty good book.. I bought it in the discounted books at B&N and used it as an outside reading resource for my physics class. The kids liked it and I liked it, thus I gave it four stars..
July 23, 2014
I LOVED this book. I think I misplaced it before I finished it, though, somewhere around Quantum Mechanics (I know, ironic). But if you're into casual physics reading, this books is fantastic.
September 5, 2013
賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱胤丕賯丞
December 8, 2014
Stuff is bonkers
September 13, 2016
賰鬲丕亘 噩賲賷賱 賷禺亘乇賰 毓賳 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱賳馗乇賷丕鬲 丕賱賲賴賲丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 賵亘卮乇丨 胤賷亘.
October 23, 2016
賰鬲丕亘 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 乇丕卅毓 賱賰賳 亘毓囟 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕氐丕亘賳賷 亘丕賱賲賱賱 丕賱卮丿賷丿
August 3, 2023
丕賱賰鬲丕亘 乇丕卅毓 賵賱賰賳 賮賷 丕賱賮氐賱丕賳 賯亘賱 丕賱兀禺賷乇丕賳 鬲鬲毓賯丿 丕賱兀賲賵乇 賵鬲氐毓亘
賮賰賳鬲 兀卮丕賴丿 賮賷丿賷賵賴丕鬲 賷賵鬲賷賵亘 毓賳 丕賱兀賲賵乇 丕賱賲亘賴賲丞 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘貙 賵賲賳 孬賲 兀毓賵丿 賱賴 賰賲乇噩毓
爻毓賷丿 兀賳賷 兀鬲賲賲鬲賴貙 賵賯丿 鬲睾賷乇鬲 亘毓丿賴丕 乇丐賷鬲賷 賱賱毓丕賱賲貙
賮賰賳鬲 兀卮丕賴丿 賮賷丿賷賵賴丕鬲 賷賵鬲賷賵亘 毓賳 丕賱兀賲賵乇 丕賱賲亘賴賲丞 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘貙 賵賲賳 孬賲 兀毓賵丿 賱賴 賰賲乇噩毓
爻毓賷丿 兀賳賷 兀鬲賲賲鬲賴貙 賵賯丿 鬲睾賷乇鬲 亘毓丿賴丕 乇丐賷鬲賷 賱賱毓丕賱賲貙
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June 10, 20182-爻亘毓 兀賮賰丕乇 賴夭鬲 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賱賳賷孬丕賳 爻亘賷賱亘乇噩 賵亘乇賷賵賳 兀賳丿乇爻賵賳
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