The world according to physics / Jim Al-Khalili.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Al-Khalili, Jim, author.

Series:

Gale eBooks

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Physics--Popular works.

Physics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 313 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2020]

Summary:

Quantum physicist, New York Times bestselling author, and BBC host Jim Al-Khalili offers a fascinating and illuminating look at what physics reveals about the world Shining a light on the most profound insights revealed by modern physics, Jim Al-Khalili invites us all to understand what this crucially important science tells us about the universe and the nature of reality itself. Al-Khalili begins by introducing the fundamental concepts of space, time, energy, and matter, and then describes the three pillars of modern physics—quantum theory, relativity, and thermodynamics—showing how all three must come together if we are ever to have a full understanding of reality. Using wonderful examples and thought-provoking analogies, Al-Khalili illuminates the physics of the extreme cosmic and quantum scales, the speculative frontiers of the field, and the physics that underpins our everyday experiences and technologies, bringing the reader up to speed with the biggest ideas in physics in just a few sittings. Physics is revealed as an intrepid human quest for ever more foundational principles that accurately explain the natural world we see around us, guided by core values such as honesty and doubt in the search for truth. The knowledge discovered by physics both empowers and humbles us, and still, physics continues to delve valiantly into the unknown. Al-Khalili makes even the most enigmatic scientific ideas accessible and captivating. This breezy yet deeply insightful book illuminates why physics matters to everyone and calls one and all to share in the profound adventure of seeking truth in the world around us.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

Preface

1. The Awe of Understanding

2. Scale

3. Space and Time

4. Energy and Matter

5. The Quantum World

6. Thermodynamics and the Arrow of Time

7. Unification

8. The Future of Physics

9. The Usefulness of Physics

10. Thinking like a Physicist

Acknowledgments

Further Reading

Index

A NOTE ON THE TYPE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9780691205052

0691205051

9780691201672

0691201676

OCLC:

1238026086