Thought-provoking nonmathematical introduction to the conceptual foundations of both Newton's and Einstein's theories of gravitation. Special relativity theory, general relativity theory, other topics. This updated edition features material on gravitational radiation detectors, current problems in cosmology, singularities of the gravitational field, and more.
Nonmathematical introduction to conceptual foundations of both Newton's and Einstein's theories of gravity features updated material on gravity waves, singularities, and other current topics. 88 illustrations. 1968 edition.
Weinberg's 1972 work, in his description, had two purposes. The first was practical to bring together and assess the wealth of data provided over the previous decade while realizing that newer data would come in even as the book was being printed. He hoped the comprehensive picture would prepare the reader and himself to that new data as it emerged. The second was to produce a textbook about general relativity in which geometric ideas were not given a starring role for (in his words) too great an emphasis on geometry can only obscure the deep connections between gravitation and the rest of physics.
Writing for the general reader or student, Wald has completely revised and updated this highly regarded work to include recent developments in black hole physics and cosmology. Nature called the first edition "a very readable and accurate account of modern relativity physics for the layman within the unavoidable constraint of almost no mathematics. . . . A well written, entertaining and authoritative book."
Since Einstein first described them nearly a century ago, gravitational waves have been the subject of more sustained controversy than perhaps any other phenomenon in physics. These as yet undetected fluctuations in the shape of space-time were first predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity, but only now, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, are we on the brink of finally observing them. Daniel Kennefick's landmark book takes readers through the theoretical controversies and thorny debates that raged around the subject of gravitational waves after the publication of Einstein's theory. The previously untold story of how we arrived at a settled theory of gravitational waves includes a stellar cast from the front ranks of twentieth-century physics, including Richard Feynman, Hermann Bondi, John Wheeler, Kip Thorne, and Einstein himself, who on two occasions avowed that gravitational waves do not exist, changing his mind both times. The book derives its title from a famously skeptical comment made by Arthur Stanley Eddington in 1922--namely, that "gravitational waves propagate at the speed of thought." Kennefick uses the title metaphorically to contrast the individual brilliance of each of the physicists grappling with gravitational-wave theory against the frustratingly slow progression of the field as a whole. Accessibly written and impeccably researched, this book sheds new light on the trials and conflicts that have led to the extraordinary position in which we find ourselves today--poised to bring the story of gravitational waves full circle by directly confirming their existence for the very first time.
1976 the entrancing force with a thousand names, simple circuits you can build, and fuel-less propulsion & power systems. Contents: Anti-gravity devices in order of easy understanding; Free energy and borderline free energy; the Energy X itself; Sta.
Love poems and thoughts about relativity of time, metaphysics and the Equation of Love. Definition and concept of time. Gravity and a new theory of everything. In this book, perspectives of modern science and metaphysics are combined; besides the introduction about the relativity of love there are two titles dedicated to time and the Love Equation and gravity, respectively. In title II, the different definitions of time are discussed, emphasizing the subjective origin of the concept and the never-ending attempts to obtain its common and objective idea. There is a brief discussion about the new concept used by the physics science and, more thoroughly, the personal conception of metaphysical time and the time line as something real and subjective in contrast to the imaginary nature of time in Modern Physics. Title III focuses on the Equation of Love, Newton’s gravity and its interrelations with Modern Physics and, in particular, with Einstein’s equation of the mass-energy equivalence. In other words, the new theory attempts to replace the correct duality of subjective and objective reality in the realm of philosophy, separating them from other, let’s say, imaginary realities. It is not to say that imaginary realities are completely incorrect, but they do not correspond to the standard, common and simpler form of the operation of human logic and, as a epistemological result, of the scientific method.
Cosmology: The Science of the Universe is an introduction to past and present cosmological theory. For much of the world's history, cosmological thought was formulated in religious or philosophical language and was thus theological or metaphysical in nature. However, cosmological speculation and theory has now become a science in which the empirical discoveries of the astronomer, theoretical physicist, and biologist are woven into intricate models that attempt to account for the universe as a whole. Professor Harrison draws on the discoveries and speculations of these scientists to provide a comprehensive survey of man's current understanding of the universe and its history. Tracing the rise of the scientific method, the major aim of this book is to provide an elementary understanding of the physical universe of modern times. Thoroughly revised and updated, this second edition extends the much acclaimed first edition taking into account the many developments that have occurred.
Einstein’s Revolution: A Study of Theory Unification gives students of physics and philosophy, and general readers, an epistemological insight into the genesis of Einstein’s special relativity and its further unification with other theories. The book starts with an introductory analysis of the reasons for mature theory change in science. This leads to a discussion about special relativity genesis. It is contended that Einstein’s ingenious approach to special relativity creation, substantially distinguishing him from Lorentz’s and Poincaré’s invaluable impacts, turns to be a milestone of maxwellian electrodynamics, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics reconciliation design. Special relativity turns out to be grounded on Einstein’s breakthrough 1905 light quantum hypothesis. Eventually the author amends the received view on the general relativity genesis by stressing that the main reason for Einstein’s victory over the rival programmes of Abraham and Nordström was a unificationist character of Einstein’s research programme.
