Foundations of Physics
This self-teaching, calculus-based introduction to the concepts of physics provides clear explanations using numerous examples, applications, and figures. Topics include vectors, conservation of energy, Newton's Laws, momentum, motion, gravity, relativity, waves, fluid mechanics, circuits, nuclear physics, astrophysics, and more.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact of Renewable Energy Sources
This timely book, written by recognised experts, will be welcomed by those in the energy industries as well as by policy-makers, consultants and engineers.
Energy and Civilization: A History (The MIT Press)
A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel-driven civilization."I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years.--Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the YearEnergy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows--ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity--for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel-driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts--from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.
Corporeality of Antigravity
This book is about an antigravity force that might suddenly become incandescent in the mind, radiating outward with such apocalyptic power that everything would change.
History of Astronomy
This Encyclopedia traces the history of the oldest science from the ancient world to the space age in over 300 entries by leading experts.
Lords of the Ice Moons
What happens with something becomes someone?In the aftermath of an asteroid impact, Earth's power grid is damaged nearly beyond recovery. The survival of our world may well depend on energy sources collected from an abandoned undersea settlement beneath the icy surface of Enceladus. Earth-raised Colonel Carter Rhodes, in charge of Earth's recovery efforts, calls upon Gwen Bar矇, a Venusian engineer, to regain control of the deserted moon outpost and collect fuel for Earth's collapsing power grids.However, what Gwen discovers churning in Enceladus's subsurface waters brings her and Colonel Rhodes' straightforward plans to a crashing halt. Soon, Gwen finds herself in the middle of an interplanetary standoff. Win, and give the last humans on Earth a chance to survive. Lose, and risk the permanent dismantling of human society across the Solar System. Forced to take sides in this war for power, resources, and species survival, Gwen must make choices that not only affect her own life, but also force her to question what "life" itself might really mean.Will the promise of Enceladus energy be enough to salvage what is left of Earth's society?Are these humans worthy of salvation?.
Rare Astronomical Sights and Sounds
​The universe contains many unusual sights and sounds, most of which are either very difficult to witness or simply go unnoticed. With the right tools, time, and location, some of the often talked about but seldom seen and heard gems in our skies can finally be observed.This book introduces readers to the rare and ephemeral happenings above our heads. It offers a crash course in astronomical history, detailing the observations, assumptions, and inventions of different cultures over time as they turned their studies to the stars. Using this as a baseline to redefine truly "rare" occurrences, Jonathan Powell then provides modern-day astronomers at all levels with pointers for what they can witness and when. From phenomena as old and far-off as a supernova witnessed a thousand years ago, and as recent and nearby as Sputnik's famous beeping, this book covers everything that one must know to see, hear, and appreciate the astronomical events happening around us.
The Science of Musical Sound
This textbook is a product of William Bennett's work in developing and teaching a course on the physics of music at Yale University to a diverse audience of musicians and science students in the same class. The book is a culmination of over a decade of teaching the course and weaves together historical descriptions of the physical phenomena with the author's clear interpretations of the most important aspects of the science of music and musical instruments. Many of the historical examples are not found in any other textbook available on the market. As the co-inventor of the Helium-Neon laser, Prof. Bennett's knowledge of physics was world-class. As a professor at one of the most prestigious liberal-arts universities in the world, his appreciation for culture and humanities shines through. The book covers the basics of oscillations, waves and the analysis techniques necessary for understanding how musical instruments work. All types of stringed instruments, pipe organs, and the humanvoice are covered in this volume. A second volume covers the remaining families of musical instruments as well as selected other topics. Readers without a background in acoustics will enjoy learning the physics of the Science of Musical Sound from a preeminent scientist of the 20th century. Those well versed in acoustics will discover wonderful illustrations and photographs depicting familiar concepts in new and enlightening ways.
Fueling America
Fueling America: An Insider's Journey offers a fascinating, wholly unique look into a frequently discussed but poorly understood topic: energy. Author Jack Kerfoot takes readers on a ride that is as wild as it is thoughtfully constructed: there are high-stakes gambles to find new oil reserves, corruption, price volatility, fraud, technical blunders, spectacular successes, and gut-wrenching failures. For forty years, Kerfoot worked with scientists, wildcatters, bureaucrats, ministers, sheiks, tycoons, and potentates in the oil industry. Now, he is an outspoken advocate for renewable energy. Journalists usually uncover these types of stories. With Fueling America, an oil expert disrupts what readers thought they knew about energy powerhouses, the crisis, and our future.
Oscillatory transmission through non-tunneling regime of single rectangular tunnel barrier
Master's Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Physics - Quantum Physics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Department of Physics), course: Nanostructure Physics, language: English, abstract: Unravel the mysteries of electron behavior at the nanoscale with this deep dive into the quantum world of single rectangular tunnel barriers. Journey into the realm where classical intuition breaks down and quantum mechanics reigns supreme, influencing the very fabric of microelectronics and nanostructure physics. This comprehensive exploration meticulously dissects the transmission of electrons through a single rectangular tunnel barrier in the intriguing non-tunneling regime, offering a blend of theoretical rigor and practical insights. Beginning with a solid foundation in quantum mechanics, including Schr繹dinger's equation and the properties of wavefunctions, the study progresses to explore the intricacies of microelectronics, semiconductor physics, and the unique characteristics of nanostructures. Discover how analytical calculations and numerical simulations are employed to unravel the parametric dependence of electron transmission on barrier height and width. Gain a profound understanding of the oscillatory transmission phenomena, where the transmission coefficient dances between maxima and minima, governed by the subtle interplay of quantum principles. This book meticulously examines both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of these transmission peaks and valleys, providing a comprehensive analysis of their behavior under varying conditions. Explore the impact of these phenomena on advanced electronic devices and nanotechnologies, bridging the gap between fundamental theory and real-world applications. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a student venturing into the quantum realm, this book offers a valuable resource for navigating the complexities of electron transport in nanoscale systems, revealing the secrets behind the seemingly simple sing
Exoplanets
"How do alien, faraway worlds reveal their existence to Earthlings? Let Donald Goldsmith count the ways. As an experienced astronomer and a gifted storyteller, he is the perfect person to chronicle the ongoing hunt for planets of other stars." --Dava Sobel Astronomers have recently discovered thousands of planets that orbit stars throughout our Milky Way galaxy. With his characteristic wit and style, Donald Goldsmith presents the science of exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life in a way that Earthlings with little background in astronomy or astrophysics can understand and enjoy. Much of what has captured the imagination of planetary scientists and the public is the unexpected strangeness of these distant worlds, which bear little resemblance to the planets in our solar system. The sizes, masses, and orbits of exoplanets detected so far raise new questions about how planets form and evolve. Still more tantalizing are the efforts to determine which exoplanets might support life. Astronomers are steadily improving their means of examining these planets' atmospheres and surfaces, with the help of advanced spacecraft sent into orbits a million miles from Earth. These instruments will provide better observations of planetary systems in orbit around the dim red stars that throng the Milky Way. Previously spurned as too faint to support life, these cool stars turn out to possess myriad planets nestled close enough to maintain Earthlike temperatures. The quest to find other worlds brims with possibility. Exoplanets shows how astronomers have broadened our planetary horizons, and suggests what may come next, including the ultimate discovery: life beyond our home planet.
Emerging Dynamics
Explores the impact and significance of modern science, science-based technology and human values on societyPromotes the need for mutual accommodation between scientific values and traditional societal valuesExamines the fundamental role of energy for civilization and society.
Physics: The Ultimate Adventure
This book explains - in simple terms and with almost no mathematics - the physics behind recent and glamorous discoveries in Cosmology, Quantum Mechanics, Elementary Particles (e.g. Higgs bosons) and Complexity Theory. En route it delves into the historical landmarks and revolutions that brought about our current understanding of the universe. The book is written mainly for those with little scientific background, both college students and lay readers alike, who are curious about the world of modern physics. Unsolved problems are highlighted and the philosophical implications of the sometimes astounding modern discoveries are discussed. Along the way the reader gains an insight into the mindset and methodology of a physicist.
Scale
"This is science writing as wonder and as inspiration." --The Wall Street Journal Wall Street JournalFrom one of the most influential scientists of our time, a dazzling exploration of the hidden laws that govern the life cycle of everything from plants and animals to the cities we live in. Visionary physicist Geoffrey West is a pioneer in the field of complexity science, the science of emergent systems and networks. The term "complexity" can be misleading, however, because what makes West's discoveries so beautiful is that he has found an underlying simplicity that unites the seemingly complex and diverse phenomena of living systems, including our bodies, our cities and our businesses. Fascinated by aging and mortality, West applied the rigor of a physicist to the biological question of why we live as long as we do and no longer. The result was astonishing, and changed science: West found that despite the riotous diversity in mammals, they are all, to a large degree, scaled versions of each other. If you know the size of a mammal, you can use scaling laws to learn everything from how much food it eats per day, what its heart-rate is, how long it will take to mature, its lifespan, and so on. Furthermore, the efficiency of the mammal's circulatory systems scales up precisely based on weight: if you compare a mouse, a human and an elephant on a logarithmic graph, you find with every doubling of average weight, a species gets 25% more efficient--and lives 25% longer. Fundamentally, he has proven, the issue has to do with the fractal geometry of the networks that supply energy and remove waste from the organism's body. West's work has been game-changing for biologists, but then he made the even bolder move of exploring his work's applicability. Cities, too, are constellations of networks and laws of scalability relate with eerie precision to them. Recently, West has applied his revolutionary work to the business world. This investigation has led to powerful insights into why some companies thrive while others fail. The implications of these discoveries are far-reaching, and are just beginning to be explored. Scale is a thrilling scientific adventure story about the elemental natural laws that bind us together in simple but profound ways. Through the brilliant mind of Geoffrey West, we can envision how cities, companies and biological life alike are dancing to the same simple, powerful tune.
The Great Unknown
"An engaging voyage into some of the great mysteries and wonders of our world." --Alan Lightman, author of Einstein's Dream and The Accidental Universe "No one is better at making the recondite accessible and exciting." --Bill Bryson Brain Pickings and Kirkus Best Science Book of the YearEvery week seems to throw up a new discovery, shaking the foundations of what we know. But are there questions we will never be able to answer--mysteries that lie beyond the predictive powers of science? In this captivating exploration of our most tantalizing unknowns, Marcus du Sautoy invites us to consider the problems in cosmology, quantum physics, mathematics, and neuroscience that continue to bedevil scientists and creative thinkers who are at the forefront of their fields. At once exhilarating, mind-bending, and compulsively readable, The Great Unknown challenges us to consider big questions--about the nature of consciousness, what came before the big bang, and what lies beyond our horizons--while taking us on a virtuoso tour of the great breakthroughs of the past and celebrating the men and women who dared to tackle the seemingly impossible and had the imagination to come up with new ways of seeing the world.
Universe in Creation
We know the universe has a history, but does it also have a story of self-creation to tell? Yes, in Roy R. Gould's account. He offers a compelling narrative of how the universe--with no instruction other than its own laws--evolved into billions of galaxies and gave rise to life, including humans who have been trying for millennia to comprehend it. Far from being a random accident, the universe is hard at work, extracting order from chaos. Making use of the best current science, Gould turns what many assume to be true about the universe on its head. The cosmos expands inward, not outward. Gravity can drive things apart, not merely together. And the universe seems to defy entropy as it becomes more ordered, rather than the other way around. Strangest of all, the universe is exquisitely hospitable to life, despite its being constructed from undistinguished atoms and a few unexceptional rules of behavior. Universe in Creation explores whether the emergence of life, rather than being a mere cosmic afterthought, may be written into the most basic laws of nature. Offering a fresh take on what brought the world--and us--into being, Gould helps us see the universe as the master of its own creation, not tethered to a singular event but burgeoning as new space and energy continuously stream into existence. It is a very old story, as yet unfinished, with plotlines that twist and churn through infinite space and time.
Conquering the Physics Gre
The Physics GRE plays a significant role in deciding admissions to nearly all US physics Ph.D. programs, yet few exam-prep books focus on the test's actual content and unique structure. Recognized as one of the best student resources available, this tailored guide has been thoroughly updated for the current Physics GRE. It contains carefully selected review material matched to all of the topics covered, as well as tips and tricks to help solve problems under time pressure. It features three full-length practice exams, revised to accurately reflect the difficulty of the current test, with fully worked solutions so that students can simulate taking the test, review their preparedness, and identify areas in which further study is needed. Written by working physicists who took the Physics GRE for their own graduate admissions to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this self-contained reference guide will help students achieve their best score.
The Visible Kingdom of God
As Noah and his family repopulated the earth, they passed on fascinating details of life before the Flood. These parallel the book of Genesis but diverge after Babel. Read these amazingly similar accounts from every part of the world. See how this informs your study of the Bible.
The Scientific Companion, 2nd Ed.
This new edition of the critically acclaimed Scientific Companion offers a comprehensive introduction to the physical sciences: physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, meteorology, biology, atmospheric science, and oceanography. Emiliani traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the present, explaining the nature of the galaxy, the Earth, inorganic and organic matter, and the development of scientific thought. More than 50 new illustrations appear throughout - from stunning aerial shots of Earth's topography to striking close-ups of the moon provided by NASA. Hundreds of additional photos, charts, maps, and diagrams, plus 35 tables of the most essential facts, figures, and formulas - from Planck's constant to the laws of thermodynamics, from quantum energy levels to Avogadro's number - make The Scientific Companion an ideal desktop reference. Written for the layperson, sufficiently detailed for students, it is the only book of its kind to bridge the gap between works of popular science and college textbooks.
On the Origin (and Evolution) of Baryonic Galaxy Halos
This book covers aspects and achievements of the baryonic (star and gas) component of galaxy halos as presented at the successful conference "On the Origin (and Evolution) of Baryonic Galaxy Halos", held on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, March 13-17, 2017. It can be regarded as a compendium of the prominent results in this field. The main focus is the latest simulations and observations of galaxy halos. This compendium is recommended to researchers, and advanced students, as it contains peer-reviewed high quality papers that will meet their scientific needs and help to initiate new research directions. Everything described in this book is the result of a truly collective effort from the participants of the Galapagos conference.
Challenging the Unchallengeable
John D. Frey leads readers on a fascinating journey in this book that seeks to prove that Albert Einsteins theory of special relativity is all wrong. He begins by sharing an overview of special relativity, including its history, principles, and how these principles bring about time dilation and length contraction. The author examines six experiments that show that the theorys claims and principles can disqualify themselves by producing impossible, opposing results. He also explains how experiments that supposedly have verified special relativity and its claims actually help prove that the theory is flawed. Behind this book was over 10 years of research by the author concerning every aspect of special relativity. In addition, the author consulted with over 30 professors of physics concerning his ideas and experiments and their feedback was extremely important in the creation of this book. Written in everyday, nontechnical language, the book will make sense to those without a background in physics. No matter what you do for a living, you can participate in a vital discussion about our universe and join the author in Challenging the Unchallengeable.
Reality Is Not What It Seems
"The man who makes physics sexy . . . the scientist they're calling the next Stephen Hawking." --The Times Magazine From the New York Times-bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, The Order of Time, and the forthcoming Helgoland, a closer look at the mind-bending nature of the universe. What are the elementary ingredients of the world? Do time and space exist? And what exactly is reality? In elegant and accessible prose, theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli leads us on a wondrous journey from Democritus to Einstein, from Michael Faraday to gravitational waves, and from classical physics to his own work in quantum gravity. As he shows us how the idea of reality has evolved over time, Rovelli offers deeper explanations of the theories he introduced so concisely in Seven Brief Lessons on Physics. Rovelli invites us to imagine a marvelous world where space breaks up into tiny grains, time disappears at the smallest scales, and black holes are waiting to explode--a vast universe still largely undiscovered.
LIFE MADE IN WISDOM __The Mathematical Principles of Biointelligemce & The Origin of Life
First time, scientifically, a new concept of the absoluteness of bio-intelligence, called as Absolute Intelligence (A-IT) had been put forward to reveal the fundamental nature of life's intelligence, based on a new, basic Physical and Mathematical analysis. The theory of A-IT with its mathematical principals has systematically been presented to identify the boundary between life and natural phenomena by the natural laws (L) and chance (C) and to prove the probability of the life's origin by LC to be exactly zero. And DNA is an A-IT - Sign, impossible to be created by the Chemical Dynamics. Also A-IT is divided into different kinds, each having different level ranges with A-IT - Forbidden Gaps to prohibit the natural transitions among them. Correspondingly, living things are divided into different A-IT level groups, and so to prohibit the natural transitions among them. Thus, the macro-evolution from the primitive cell-life to the advanced living things is prohibited. The life's origin is A-IT cause. The theory of A-IT is harmonious with the Biblical Creation. Life is made in intelligence (wisdom) according to their kinds. The author has been invited to speak in many places in the US and abroad. The present book is a valuable reference for the readers who have the related educational background. (Ying Chao Ruan). Born in Yi-Yang, Hunan Province, China, 1938, Graduated from Theoretical Physics, Department. of Physics, U. of Jilin, China; Professor of Physics, Provincial U., Harbin China; Visiting Physicist, worked with the Institute of Theoretical Physics, U. of Alberta, Canada U. of MO., KC. USA, etc.
Why Time Flies
"An insightful meditation on the curious nature of time...A highly illuminating intellectual investigation" (Kirkus Reviews) explaining the sometimes contradictory ways we experience time. "Time" is the most commonly used noun in the English language; it's always on our minds and it advances through every living moment. But what is time, exactly? Do children experience it the same way adults do? Why does it seem to slow down when we're bored and speed by as we get older? How and why does time fly? "Erudite and informative, a joy with many small treasures" (Science), this witty and meditative exploration by award-winning author and New Yorker staff writer Alan Burdick--"one of the finest science writers at work today, with an uncanny ability to explain knotty topics, with humanity, and humor" (Publishers Weekly, staff pick, best books of 2016)--takes readers on a personal quest to understand how time gets in us and why we perceive it the way we do. In the company of scientists, he visits the most accurate clock in the world (which exists only on paper); discovers that "now" actually happened a split-second ago; finds a twenty-fifth hour in the day; lives in the Arctic to lose all sense of time; and, for one fleeting moment in a neuroscientist's lab, even makes time go backward. "Why Time Flies captures us. Because it opens up a well of fascinating queries and gives us a glimpse of what has become an ever more deepening mystery for humans: the nature of time" (The New York Times Book Review). This "intellectual adventure renders a hefty topic accessible to the general public" (Richmond Times-Dispatch), is an instant classic, a vivid and intimate examination of the clocks that tick inside us all.
The Night Sky Companion
The Night Sky Companion offers a guide to what can be explored on a nightly basis. Designed to appeal to readers at all skill levels and involvement, it provides a digest for sky watchers interested in all-in-one-place information that includes history, current events, and of course interesting objects to be observed on any given day. It provides unaided eye observers an opportunity to view many objects or events as well as learn about their history, science and how just "looking up" can be rewarding. Binocular and small telescope users will find a wealth of objects to view using simple star hop instructions and finder charts. Large-aperture telescope users looking for a challenge are not ignored either: some of the finest deep-sky objects are detailed, with finder maps and photographs, most of them taken by talented amateurs.
On to Mars!
This book introduces the Martian simulations of The Mars Society, the first one installed on Devon Island, an uninhabited island in the Canadian Arctic, well within the polar circle, and the second in the desert of Utah, several hundreds of kilometers South of Salt Lake City. The book is based on the diaries held during the simulations, by Vladimir Pletser, a physicist-engineer, who was selected to participate in these simulations. It relates the details of everyday life in these Martian habitats and of the scientific and exploratory work conducted in these extreme environments in preparation for future manned missions to Mars. Through the real experiences described in the book, readers will find space explorations and living on Mars more tangible.
Time Before God
The Big Bang was not a bang--and it was not so big--neither was it the start of the universe.The universe started many trillions of years before the big bang and it was in no hurry to prepare for the event that formed our part of the universe.This book describes the events leading up to the big bang including the formation of the building blocks of matter, how the properties of matter like mass and energy were formed.These unobservable events of the original universe are described with graphic detail. There is an inescapable logic to each stage and phase preparing for the next. This book is a simple-to-understand and fun explanation of profound and momentous events.
The Origins of Everything in 100 Pages
Covering 13.8 billion years in some 100 pages, a calculatedly concise, wryly intelligent history of everything, from the Big Bang to the advent of human civilization With wonder, wit, and flair--and in record time and space--geophysicist David Bercovici explains how everything came to be everywhere, from the creation of stars and galaxies to the formation of Earth's atmosphere and oceans, to the origin of life and human civilization. Bercovici marries humor and legitimate scientific intrigue, rocketing readers across nearly fourteen billion years and making connections between the essential theories that give us our current understanding of topics as varied as particle physics, plate tectonics, and photosynthesis. Bercovici's unique literary endeavor is a treasure trove of real, compelling science and fascinating history, providing both science lovers and complete neophytes with an unforgettable introduction to the fields of cosmology, geology, genetics, climate science, human evolution, and more.
Four Pillars of Radio Astronomy
Brings together the stories of a unique group of pioneers who formed the pillars of radio astronomyShows the link of basic science with diverse areas such as the development of medical imaging, sonar and of Wireless Local Area Networks (Wifi)Written by the authors of the academic memoirs for these four individuals
The Physics of Star Wars
Explore the physics behind the world of Star Wars, with engaging topics and accessible information that shows how we're closer than ever before to creating technology from the galaxy far, far away--perfect for every Star Wars fan! Ever wish you could have your very own lightsaber like Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi? Or that you could fly through space at the speed of light like Han Solo and Poe Dameron? Well, those ideas aren't as outlandish as you think. In The Physics of Star Wars, you'll explore the mystical power of the Force using quantum mechanics, find out how much energy it would take for the Death Star or Starkiller Base to destroy a planet, and discover how we can potentially create our very own lightsabers. The fantastical world of Star Wars may become a reality!
Schaum’s Outline of College Physics
Tough Test Questions? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time? Textbook too Pricey? Fortunately, there's Schaum's. This all-in-one-package includes more than 700 fully-solved problems, examples, and practice exercises to sharpen your problem-solving skills. Plus, you will have access to the revised online Schaum's.com website-it's just like having your own virtual tutor! You'll find everything you need to build confidence, skills, and knowledge for the highest score possible. More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's to help them succeed in the classroom and on exams. Schaum's is the key to faster learning and higher grades in every subject. Each Outline presents all the essential course information in an easy-to-follow, topic-by-topic format. Helpful tables and illustrations increase your understanding of the subject at hand. Schaum's Outline of College Physics, 12th Edition features: - Updated content to match the latest curriculum - Over 700 fully-solved problems - Hundreds of practice problems with answers - Clear explanations for all physics concepts - An accessible outline format for quick and easy review - Access to revised Schaums.com website
Hubble's Universe
Praise for the first edition: "Superbly well produced. Any engagement with this 'cosmic portfolio, ' from picture gazing to deep reading, is grandly rewarded." --Booklist [starred review] "The book's precise descriptions and captions brilliantly complement the 300 full-color Hubble images . . . this is an amazing book . . . outstanding." --Library Journal "A treasure map to the majesty of our universe." --Publishers Weekly "A reminder that the finest telescope in space might also be the greatest camera ever created." --Wall Street Journal The first edition of Hubble's Universe displayed 300 pages of high-resolution celestial portraits selected by bestselling astronomy writer Terence Dickinson from the initial 22 years of the Hubble Space Telescope's exploration of distant galaxies. With the telescope now at the apex of its imaging capabilities, this second edition adds another chapter with more than 36 completely new images, including the first publication of a four-page fold-out of the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to Earth, revealing more than one million individual stars. Thanks to Dickinson's expertise with Hubble's history and discoveries and his access to top Hubble scientists for insight and accuracy, the text includes facts and tidbits not found in any other book. Combined with 330 brilliant images, the clear, succinct and illuminating narrative brings to life the fascinating forces at work in the universe.
Now
You are reading the word "now" right now. But what does that mean? "Now" has bedeviled philosophers, priests, and modern-day physicists from Augustine to Einstein and beyond. In Now, eminent physicist Richard A. Muller takes up the challenge. He begins with remarkably clear explanations of relativity, entropy, entanglement, the Big Bang, and more, setting the stage for his own revolutionary theory of time, one that makes testable predictions. Muller's monumental work will spark major debate about the most fundamental assumptions of our universe, and may crack one of physics' longest-standing enigmas.
The Universal Book of Astronomy
The ultimate guide to the final frontierThis alphabetical tour of the universe provides all the history, science, and up-to-the-minute facts needed to explore the skies with authority. Packed with more than 3,000 entries that cover everything from major observatories and space telescopes to biographies of astronomers throughout the ages, it showcases an extraordinary array of newfound wonders, including microquasars, brown dwarfs, and dark energy, as well as a host of individual comets, asteroids, moons, planets, stars, nebulas, and galaxies. Featuring nearly 200 illustrations and eight pages of color photographs, this comprehensive guide provides easy lookup of topics and offers more in-depth information than can be found in existing star guides or astronomy dictionaries. It's an ideal resource for the amateur astronomer or anyone with an interest in the mysteries of the cosmos.David Darling, PhD (Brainerd, MN), is the author of The Complete Book of Spaceflight (0-471-05649-9) and Equations of Eternity, a New York Times Notable Book.
Nuclear Physics, New Atomic Bomb, the Bionic Arm
This book called Nuclear Physics, New Atomic Bomb, the Bionic Arm is about, slowly in time and increasing space, introducing a neutron moderator into the nuclear detonation chamber to slow down fast neutrons to slow down thermal neutrons for nuclear fission.
Strange Glow: The Story of Radiation
The fascinating science and history of radiation More than ever before, radiation is a part of our modern daily lives. We own radiation-emitting phones, regularly get diagnostic x-rays, such as mammograms, and submit to full-body security scans at airports. We worry and debate about the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the safety of nuclear power plants. But how much do we really know about radiation? And what are its actual dangers? An accessible blend of narrative history and science, Strange Glow describes mankind's extraordinary, thorny relationship with radiation, including the hard-won lessons of how radiation helps and harms our health. Timothy Jorgensen explores how our knowledge of and experiences with radiation in the last century can lead us to smarter personal decisions about radiation exposures today. Jorgensen introduces key figures in the story of radiation--from Wilhelm Roentgen, the discoverer of x-rays, and pioneering radioactivity researchers Marie and Pierre Curie, to Thomas Edison and the victims of the recent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Tracing the most important events in the evolution of radiation, Jorgensen explains exactly what radiation is, how it produces certain health consequences, and how we can protect ourselves from harm. He also considers a range of practical scenarios such as the risks of radon in our basements, radiation levels in the fish we eat, questions about cell-phone use, and radiation's link to cancer. Jorgensen empowers us to make informed choices while offering a clearer understanding of broader societal issues. Investigating radiation's benefits and risks, Strange Glow takes a remarkable look at how, for better or worse, radiation has transformed our society.
The Telescopic Tourist's Guide to the Moon
Whether you're interested in visiting Apollo landing sites or the locations of classic sci-fi movies, this is the tourist guide for you! This tourist guide has a twist - it is a guide to a whole different world, which you can visit from the comfort of your backyard with the aid of nothing more sophisticated than an inexpensive telescope. It tells you the best times to view the Moon, the most exciting sights to look out for, and the best equipment to use, allowing you to snap stunning photographs as well as view the sights with your own eyes. Have you ever been inspired by stunning images from the Hubble telescope, or the magic of sci-fi special effects, only to look through a small backyard telescope at the disappointing white dot of a planet or faint blur of a galaxy? Yet the Moon is different. Seen through even a relatively cheap 'scope, it springs into life like a real place, with mountains and valleys and rugged craters. With a bit of imagination, you can even picture yourself as a sightseeing visitor there - which in a sense you are.
Practical Astronomy With Your Calculator or Spreadsheet
Now in its fourth edition, this highly regarded book is ideal for those who wish to solve a variety of practical and recreational problems in astronomy using a scientific calculator or spreadsheet. Updated and extended, this new edition shows you how to use spreadsheets to predict, with greater accuracy, solar and lunar eclipses, the positions of the planets, and the times of sunrise and sunset. Suitable for worldwide use, this handbook covers orbits, transformations and general celestial phenomena, and is essential for anyone wanting to make astronomical calculations for themselves. With clear, easy-to-follow instructions for use with a pocket calculator, shown alongside worked examples, it can be enjoyed by anyone interested in astronomy, and will be a useful tool for software writers and students studying introductory astronomy. High-precision spreadsheet methods for greater accuracy are available at www.cambridge.org/practicalastronomy
50 Targets for the Mid-Sized Telescope
Written as a follow up to 50 Things to See with a Small Telescope, containing virtually no overlap in content, 50 Targets for the Mid-Sized Telescope introduces the beginner stargazer to a new assortment of astronomical wonders. With easy to follow star maps, unique for each target, the budding astronomer will explore the universe like never before.Each target has been carefully chosen to be observable in telescopes with apertures between four and eight inches. Most objects can be viewed from the suburbs in mildly light polluted conditions, with only a few noted exceptions requiring darker skies. On dark, moonless nights, most targets will be visible in small telescopes and binoculars too.
50 Targets for the Mid-Sized Telescope
Written as a follow up to 50 Things to See with a Small Telescope, containing virtually no overlap in content, 50 Targets for the Mid-Sized Telescope introduces the beginner stargazer to an assortment of astronomical wonders. With easy-to-follow star maps, unique for each target, the budding astronomer will explore the universe like never before.Each target has been carefully chosen to be observable in telescopes with apertures between four and eight inches. Most objects can be viewed from the suburbs in mildly light polluted conditions, with only a few noted exceptions requiring darker skies. On dark, moonless nights, most targets will be visible in small telescopes and binoculars too.
A Student's Guide to Dimensional Analysis
This introduction to dimensional analysis covers the methods, history and formalisation of the field, and provides physics and engineering applications. Covering topics from mechanics, hydro- and electrodynamics to thermal and quantum physics, it illustrates the possibilities and limitations of dimensional analysis. Introducing basic physics and fluid engineering topics through the mathematical methods of dimensional analysis, this book is perfect for students in physics, engineering and mathematics. Explaining potentially unfamiliar concepts such as viscosity and diffusivity, the text includes worked examples and end-of-chapter problems with answers provided in an accompanying appendix, which help make it ideal for self-study. Long-standing methodological problems arising in popular presentations of dimensional analysis are also identified and solved, making the book a useful text for advanced students and professionals.
The Big Picture
The instant New York Times bestseller about humanity's place in the universe--and how we understand it."Vivid...impressive....Splendidly informative."--The New York Times"Succeeds spectacularly."--Science"A tour de force."--SalonAlready internationally acclaimed for his elegant, lucid writing on the most challenging notions in modern physics, Sean Carroll is emerging as one of the greatest humanist thinkers of his generation as he brings his extraordinary intellect to bear not only on Higgs bosons and extra dimensions but now also on our deepest personal questions: Where are we? Who are we? Are our emotions, our beliefs, and our hopes and dreams ultimately meaningless out there in the void? Do human purpose and meaning fit into a scientific worldview? In short chapters filled with intriguing historical anecdotes, personal asides, and rigorous exposition, readers learn the difference between how the world works at the quantum level, the cosmic level, and the human level--and then how each connects to the other. Carroll's presentation of the principles that have guided the scientific revolution from Darwin and Einstein to the origins of life, consciousness, and the universe is dazzlingly unique. Carroll shows how an avalanche of discoveries in the past few hundred years has changed our world and what really matters to us. Our lives are dwarfed like never before by the immensity of space and time, but they are redeemed by our capacity to comprehend it and give it meaning. The Big Picture is an unprecedented scientific worldview, a tour de force that will sit on shelves alongside the works of Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Daniel Dennett, and E. O. Wilson for years to come.
The Art of Astrophotography
In The Art of Astrophotography, astronomer and Popular Astronomy columnist Ian Morison provides the essential foundations of how to produce beautiful astronomical images. Every type of astroimaging is covered, from images of the Moon and planets, to the constellations, star clusters and nebulae within our Milky Way Galaxy and the faint light of distant galaxies. He achieves this through a series of worked examples and short project walk-throughs, detailing the equipment needed - starting with just a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera and tripod, and increasing in complexity as the book progresses - followed by the way to best capture the images and then how, step by step, these may be processed and enhanced to provide results that can rival those seen in astronomical magazines and books. Whether you are just getting into astrophotography or are already deeply involved, Morison's advice will help you capture and create enticing astronomical images.
Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space
The authoritative story of Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish, and Kip Thorne's Nobel Prize-winning discovery of gravitational waves--by an eminent theoretical astrophysicist and award-winning writer. With A New PrefaceIn 1916, Einstein predicted the presence of gravitational waves. One century later, we are recording the first sounds from space, evidence of the waves' existence caused by the collision of two black holes. An authoritative account of the headline-making discovery by theoretical astrophysicist and award-winning writer Janna Levin, Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space recounts the fascinating story of the obsessions, aspirations, and trials of the scientists who embarked on an arduous fifty-year endeavor to capture these elusive waves Five decades after the experiment was dreamed up, the team races to intercept a wisp of sound with two colossal machines, hoping to succeed in time for the centenary of Einstein's most radical idea. With unprecendented access to the surprises, disappointments, achievements, and risks in this remarkable story, Janna Levin's absorbing account offers a portrait of modern science that is unlike anything we've seen before.
Felt Time
An expert explores the riddle of subjective time, from why time speeds up as we grow older to the connection between time and consciousness.We have widely varying perceptions of time. Children have trouble waiting for anything. ("Are we there yet?") Boredom is often connected to our sense of time passing (or not passing). As people grow older, time seems to speed up, the years flitting by without a pause. How does our sense of time come about? In Felt Time, Marc Wittmann explores the riddle of subjective time, explaining our perception of time--whether moment by moment, or in terms of life as a whole. Drawing on the latest insights from psychology and neuroscience, Wittmann offers a new answer to the question of how we experience time.Wittmann explains, among other things, how we choose between savoring the moment and deferring gratification; why impulsive people are bored easily, and why their boredom is often a matter of time; whether each person possesses a personal speed, a particular brain rhythm distinguishing quick people from slow people; and why the feeling of duration can serve as an "error signal," letting us know when it is taking too long for dinner to be ready or for the bus to come. He considers the practice of mindfulness, and whether it can reduce the speed of life and help us gain more time, and he describes how, as we grow older, subjective time accelerates as routine increases; a fulfilled and varied life is a long life. Evidence shows that bodily processes--especially the heartbeat--underlie our feeling of time and act as an internal clock for our sense of time. And Wittmann points to recent research that connects time to consciousness; ongoing studies of time consciousness, he tells us, will help us to understand the conscious self.
