The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction

Framhlið kápu
Oxford University Press, 2018 - 175 síður
How does the physics we know today - a highly professionalized enterprise, inextricably linked to government and industry - link back to its origins as a liberal art in Ancient Greece? What is the path that leads from the old philosophy of nature and its concern with humankind's place in the universe to modern massive international projects that hunt down fundamental particles and industrial laboratories that manufacture marvels?

This Very Short Introduction introduces us to Islamic astronomers and mathematicians calculating the size of the earth while their caliphs conquered much of it; to medieval scholar-theologians investigating light; to Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton, measuring, and trying to explain, the universe. We visit the "House of Wisdom" in 9th-century Baghdad; Europe's first universities; the courts of the Renaissance; the Scientific Revolution and the academies of the 18th century; and the increasingly specialized world of 20th and 21st century science. Highlighting the shifting relationship between physics, philosophy, mathematics, and technology - and the implications for humankind's self-understanding - Heilbron explores the changing place and purpose of physics in the cultures and societies that have nurtured it over the centuries.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

 

Valdar síður

Efni

the Greek way
1
Invention in antiquity
3
Selection in Islam
26
Domestication in Europe
48
Second creation
69
Classical physics and its cure
93
From old world to new
117
The quintessential
145
References
151
Further reading
157
Index
161
A Very Short Introduction
176
Höfundarréttur

Aðrar útgáfur - View all

The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction
J. L. Heilbron
Takmarkað sýnishorn - 2018
The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction
J. L. Heilbron
Takmarkað sýnishorn - 2018
The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction
J. L. Heilbron
Engin sýnishorn í boði - 2018

Common terms and phrases

academies acceleration allowed AMERICAN ancient appeared applied Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's arts astronomy atomic became bodies calculated Cambridge cause celestial centre century charged Christian circles Classical concept constant cosmic rays created creation David Descartes developed direction discovered discovery distance Earth effects Einstein electricity electrons elements energy engineering example existence experiments falling Figure followed force Galileo gave gravity Greek heat History of Physics human Ideas important institute invented Islamic Italy John knowledge laboratory later learned light magnetic material mathematics matter measurements mechanical mind Moon motion moving nature Newton nuclear numbers observed Oxford Paris particles Persian Peter philosophy physicists picture planets position practical Press principles problems produced quantum quantum mechanics rays reason Robert rule schools Second showed Society space standard stars student studies theory things took universe wave weight

Um höfundinn (2018)

John Heilbron was educated at the University of California, Berkeley, in physics and history; and began teaching at the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. He returned to Berkeley in 1967, where he rose to become professor of history and vice chancellor. After retiring in 1994 Heilbron taught sporadically at Caltech and Yale, and lived mostly around Oxford, where he has been Senior research Fellow at Worcester College and the Oxford Museum for History of Science. He has written several books for Oxford University Press, including Galileo (2010) and Love, literature, and the quantum atom. Niels Bohr's 1913 trilogy revisited (2013), with Finn Aaserud.

Bókfræðilegar upplýsingar

TitillThe History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction
Bindi 549 of Very short introductions
HöfundurJ. L. Heilbron
Editionillustrated
ÚtgefandiOxford University Press, 2018
ISBN019968412X, 9780199684120
Length175 síður
  
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