The equations : icons of knowledge / Sander Bais.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bais, Sander.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Equations, Theory of.

Logic, Symbolic and mathematical.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (97 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, c2005.

Summary:

In this book by the renowned Dutch physicist Sander Bais, the equations that govern our world unfold in all their formal grace and their deeper meaning as core symbols of our civilization.

Contents:

Intro

Table of Contents

Introduction

The tautological toolkit

Rise and fall: The logistic equation

Mechanics and gravity: Newton's dynamical equations and universal law of gravity

The electromagnetic force: The Lorentz force law

A local conservation law: The continuity equation

Electrodynamics: The Maxwell equations

Electromagnetic waves: The wave equations

Solitary waves: The Korteweg-De Vries equation

Thermodynamics: The three laws of thermodynamics

Kinetic theory: The Boltzmann equation

Hydrodynamics: The Navier-Stokes equations

Special relativity: Relativistic kinematics

General relativity: The Einstein equations

Quantum mechanics: The Schrödinger equation

The relativistic electron: The Dirac equation

The strong force: Quantum chromodynamics

Electro-weak interactions: The Glashow-Weinberg-Salam model

String theory: The superstring action

Back to the future: A final perspective.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4237-4626-0

OCLC:

62868605