Shifting the Earth : the mathematical quest to understand the motion of the universe / Arthur Mazer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mazer, Arthur, 1958-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kepler's laws.

Motion.

Celestial mechanics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (324 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Combining history, astronomy, and philosophy, this insightful book demonstrates how mathematics evolved and was used to explain planetary movements based on centuries of manual observations and careful data collection. Historical and social contexts behind the mathematical advances are provided, and the history includes the larger political and philosophical environment that affected the lives of the contributing scientists. A prime objective is to illustrate how Kepler's heliocentric pathway evolved from Ptolemy's geocentric model, with Copernicus as the critical intermediary. This reference will be valuable to science and mathematics enthusiasts, and will serve as a textbook or supplemental recommended reading for undergraduates"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: Preface.Acknowledgments.Chapter 1. Perfection.Chapter 2. Perfectionists.Chapter 3. The Iconoclast.Chapter 4. Instigators.Chapter 5. Retrograde.Chapter 6. Revolutionary.Chapter 7. Renegades.Chapter 8. The Authority.Chapter 9. Rule Breakers.Epilogue.Bibliography.Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613240040

9781283240048

1283240041

9781118108314

1118108310

9781118108291

1118108299

9781118108321

1118108329

OCLC:

759159341