Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Da Capo (2010), Edition: First Thus, Paperback, 256 pages
Description
The international bestseller: an introduction to the theory of relativity by the eminent physicists Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw What does E=mc2 actually mean? Dr. Brian Cox and Professor Jeff Forshaw go on a journey to the frontier of twenty-first century science to unpack Einstein's famous equation. Explaining and simplifying notions of energy, mass, and light-while exploding commonly held misconceptions-they demonstrate how the structure of nature itself is contained within this equation. Along the way, we visit the site of one of the largest scientific experiments ever conducted: the now-famous Large Hadron Collider, a gigantic particle accelerator capable of re-creating conditions that existed fractions of a second after the Big Bang.A collaboration between one of the youngest professors in the United Kingdom and a distinguished popular physicist, Why Does E=mc2? is one of the most exciting and accessible explanations of the theory of relativity.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member IslandDave
Cox and Forshaw have presented a streamlined, focused popular science book aimed at teaching relatively new science readers the basics and history of the famous equation in the title. While experienced physics readers will not likely learn new information, the book offers an approachable
While I personally didn't gain much new from this book (as an experienced non-professional physics reader), I believe new readers could be in for a treat. I'd certainly recommend starting a discovery of relativity with this book if the concept seems difficult. The authors take time to explain various concepts and make solid efforts to present reasonable analogies to aid in the explanation. Combined with a singularly-focused subject, the book is an excellent starting point for curious, intelligent readers wishing to know more details about E=mc2. Four stars.
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description of relativity, how we know it works, and why it is important in the modern world and beyond.While I personally didn't gain much new from this book (as an experienced non-professional physics reader), I believe new readers could be in for a treat. I'd certainly recommend starting a discovery of relativity with this book if the concept seems difficult. The authors take time to explain various concepts and make solid efforts to present reasonable analogies to aid in the explanation. Combined with a singularly-focused subject, the book is an excellent starting point for curious, intelligent readers wishing to know more details about E=mc2. Four stars.
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LibraryThing member Wombat
The authors explain Einstein's theory of special relativity, leading to the famous equation, E=mc^2. Then they explain the applications of this equation in modern physics, including a nice overview of particle physics. There are many other books that cover this territory. But the authors of this
The authors do this without condescending, and without boring readers, like myself, who aren't put off by the math. I learned much of this material in the year of physics I took as an undergrad, but the details have long since faded from my memory. In college, we flew through relativity at the end of a semester of classical mechanics. I followed how we got from point A to point B, but mostly as the explicit steps and derivations in my notebook. What I particularly like about this book wasn't that it recapitulated the derivations I saw in 25 years ago, but rather that it gave me a much better intuitive understanding of how Einstein went from the physics of the late 19th century to his theory of relativity.
The authors derive E=mc^2 about two-thirds of the way into the book. The remainder of the book is devoted to the "why should we care?" part of the title. The bulk of this is a long foray into particle physics and the "Standard Model" of modern physics. While this material was also fascinating and well-explained, it also provided the one (minor) weak point in the book. For most of this (long) chapter, I was thinking, "This is all very interesting, but what does it have to do with Einstein's formula?" In the end, the authors tie it all up nicely, but I would have appreciated a bit more context earlier in this discussion.
I enjoyed this book, and learned (or re-learned) a lot in reading it. But I'm not really the target audience, and I can't speak to how well this works for readers who are less comfortable with math and science.
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book aim to explain all of this in lay terms, for readers who don't have much of a background in math or science, "using mathematics no more complicated than Pythagoras' theorem," as they say in the introduction. The authors do this without condescending, and without boring readers, like myself, who aren't put off by the math. I learned much of this material in the year of physics I took as an undergrad, but the details have long since faded from my memory. In college, we flew through relativity at the end of a semester of classical mechanics. I followed how we got from point A to point B, but mostly as the explicit steps and derivations in my notebook. What I particularly like about this book wasn't that it recapitulated the derivations I saw in 25 years ago, but rather that it gave me a much better intuitive understanding of how Einstein went from the physics of the late 19th century to his theory of relativity.
The authors derive E=mc^2 about two-thirds of the way into the book. The remainder of the book is devoted to the "why should we care?" part of the title. The bulk of this is a long foray into particle physics and the "Standard Model" of modern physics. While this material was also fascinating and well-explained, it also provided the one (minor) weak point in the book. For most of this (long) chapter, I was thinking, "This is all very interesting, but what does it have to do with Einstein's formula?" In the end, the authors tie it all up nicely, but I would have appreciated a bit more context earlier in this discussion.
I enjoyed this book, and learned (or re-learned) a lot in reading it. But I'm not really the target audience, and I can't speak to how well this works for readers who are less comfortable with math and science.
Show Less
LibraryThing member darrow
A very good introduction to a fascinating subject, worthwhile for novices or experienced readers. In most cases when I found myself asking "... but why?" they provided the answer. My only quibble is that the narrative seems to go off in many different directions; all interesting but not all
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relevant to the chapter's topic. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
This book is yet another popularized explanation of Einstein’s theory or (as the authors explain) theories of relativity. It is also one of the best available. Its special merit lies in the fact that it actually uses equations.
The so-called “special” theory of relativity defines how
Einstein was troubled by these conclusions. He wanted to know what laws of physics were truly invariant, no matter how different observers moved relative to one another. In fact, he thought the theory of invariance was a better name for his conclusions than the theory of relativity. To make sense of these calculations, which have been verified numerous times by experiment, we must assume that space and time are not separate entities, as we formerly thought, but are inextricably meshed together in a single entity now called space-time. The authors then demonstrate the consequences of the law of the conservation of momentum, expressed in space-time. Remarkably, by teasing the relativity equations regarding length, mass, and time in light of the conservation of momentum, the famous E=mc² pops out almost like magic! The conclusion that energy and mass are equivalent and related to one another in a very precise ratio is completely unexpected and profound. To the authors’ credit, they do not insulate the reader from the relatively simple math used to derive the theory. The reader’s appreciation of the profundity of the theory is greatly enhanced by following its mathematical derivation.
When it comes to the general theory of relativity, which deals with systems accelerating relative to one another and explains the phenomenon of gravity as the localized curvature of Minkowski space-time, the math becomes much more difficult—it took Einstein ten years of intense effort to figure it out. I’ve seen the math in technical journals, and it is far too daunting for the average reader such as me. The authors mercifully omit that math, but point out that the theory ultimately was derived from the observation that objects fall at the same speed (unless differentially affected by air friction).
The book also includes a chapter on the origin of mass, which takes us away from relativity theory into the realm of quantum mechanics. The math here is very difficult, but the authors simplify matters as much a possible by using Feynman diagrams.
This is a well-written book for the curious layman with a mathematical bent who wants to explore modern physics.
(JAB)
The so-called “special” theory of relativity defines how
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observers moving at constant velocity relative to one another observe the same events. The theory begins with the assumption that the speed of light is a constant, no matter what the velocity of the light source. That assumption was originally derived from Maxwell’s equations of electricity and magnetism and subsequently verified experimentally by the famous Michelson-Morley experiment. From this assumption, the theory concludes that for different observers moving relative to one another, measuring rods shrink, clocks slow down, and the mass of all object increases as their velocity increases. Moreover, these conclusions can be derived with mathematics no more complicated than college algebra and the Pythagorean Theorem. Einstein was troubled by these conclusions. He wanted to know what laws of physics were truly invariant, no matter how different observers moved relative to one another. In fact, he thought the theory of invariance was a better name for his conclusions than the theory of relativity. To make sense of these calculations, which have been verified numerous times by experiment, we must assume that space and time are not separate entities, as we formerly thought, but are inextricably meshed together in a single entity now called space-time. The authors then demonstrate the consequences of the law of the conservation of momentum, expressed in space-time. Remarkably, by teasing the relativity equations regarding length, mass, and time in light of the conservation of momentum, the famous E=mc² pops out almost like magic! The conclusion that energy and mass are equivalent and related to one another in a very precise ratio is completely unexpected and profound. To the authors’ credit, they do not insulate the reader from the relatively simple math used to derive the theory. The reader’s appreciation of the profundity of the theory is greatly enhanced by following its mathematical derivation.
When it comes to the general theory of relativity, which deals with systems accelerating relative to one another and explains the phenomenon of gravity as the localized curvature of Minkowski space-time, the math becomes much more difficult—it took Einstein ten years of intense effort to figure it out. I’ve seen the math in technical journals, and it is far too daunting for the average reader such as me. The authors mercifully omit that math, but point out that the theory ultimately was derived from the observation that objects fall at the same speed (unless differentially affected by air friction).
The book also includes a chapter on the origin of mass, which takes us away from relativity theory into the realm of quantum mechanics. The math here is very difficult, but the authors simplify matters as much a possible by using Feynman diagrams.
This is a well-written book for the curious layman with a mathematical bent who wants to explore modern physics.
(JAB)
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LibraryThing member JWoolfenden
I really, really want to understand this. It started well, but when the maths kicked in i got lost. You Do have to have more than a basic understanding of maths to get this.
LibraryThing member fpagan
The most elementary intro to relativity I've ever seen. The authors even explain why parentheses appear in math formulas, not that they burden the reader with many of the latter. However, the organization is innovative, and the 2009 publication year is manifested in the eventual discussion of the
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LHC and the Higgs mechanism. Show Less
LibraryThing member mumfie
This is a very clear explanation of physics in a readable format that should be accessible to those with little prior knowledge. Unlike many of its type, it does not stop at E=mc2 but takes us forward to where physics is now, slotting a famous equation into perspective and making it part of a whole
The authors' joy of physics is also conveyed in a book that bubbles with enthusiasm and excitement and sheer delight in the wonders of discovery. The last couple of pages in particular are uplifting in their celebration of achievement.
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voyage of discovery.The authors' joy of physics is also conveyed in a book that bubbles with enthusiasm and excitement and sheer delight in the wonders of discovery. The last couple of pages in particular are uplifting in their celebration of achievement.
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LibraryThing member boo262
Several people have said that this is a good book for beginners to physics, but I have to disagree. I tried very hard to follow all the arguments and explanations, but I'm afraid I failed to finish the book (a very rare thing!). Having not done any science or maths since GCSEs over 10 years ago,
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perhaps I am just out of practice, but I guess I had expected a more gentle introduction. I think I got why time and space are relative, but beyond that - nope. Perhaps I'll just stick to the TV programmes... Show Less
LibraryThing member gopfolk
This was a great book for anyone that wants to understand physics just a little bit better. The author takes you through most of the detail of how Einstein came to the conclusion of E=mc^2 without having to walk through the âtough mathâ.
Iâve read tons of books like this one but this
The book had took you to the brink of the universe and brought you back to the inner workings of the atomic nucleus.
I will be keeping this hard cover book on my bookshelf for years to come.
Iâve read tons of books like this one but this
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is worth the read. I was most impressed with the fact that they really did walk you through the concepts without having math harder than the Pythagorean Theorem. If you understand that you can understand this book.The book had took you to the brink of the universe and brought you back to the inner workings of the atomic nucleus.
I will be keeping this hard cover book on my bookshelf for years to come.
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LibraryThing member travelster
It is awful to read because the authors speak to you as if you were a child. Find another book on relativity!
LibraryThing member vlucia
As a layman who is interested in Physics and finds some books too technical and many others lack of precision and depth, I found this book brilliant and very helpful. It is an easy-to-follow popular science book, yet more profound than that.
Most of all, it isn't a book that just throws out
Finally, aided by this book, I came to understand Einstein's theories of Special Relativity in detail. It really has given me more insights into this subject than any other book I've read on the same topic.
The only thing that left me somehow unsatisfied, is its brevity on theories of General Relativity, of which, the book only explains its concept. Although the mathematics should be difficult, I'd really like to learn more, by following a similar way that this wondeful book has guided us through previously.
Most of all, it isn't a book that just throws out
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"facts", results and theories towards you. It gives the readers an opportunity to looke into minds of the great, to think like a physicist and to understand how theories of Relativity and some other scientific ideas came into being. Finally, aided by this book, I came to understand Einstein's theories of Special Relativity in detail. It really has given me more insights into this subject than any other book I've read on the same topic.
The only thing that left me somehow unsatisfied, is its brevity on theories of General Relativity, of which, the book only explains its concept. Although the mathematics should be difficult, I'd really like to learn more, by following a similar way that this wondeful book has guided us through previously.
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LibraryThing member BakuDreamer
An attempt to combinte pop science with chick lit. = to : (
LibraryThing member alexleonard
Not exactly light reading but definitely fascinating. I have a feeling ill probably come back to it with a notepad at some point to get a better grasp of some of the more complex aspects.
LibraryThing member espadana
Einstein’s theory of special relativity for dummies. Which, in this case, is probably most of us.
It will be hard for someone to come up with a simpler way to explain Einstein’s work - if you’re well versed on maths or physics, you will probably find this annoying or maybe too dumbed down. But
And it works. You might feel a bit lost at times, but things will fall into place. And hopefully you will also be able to appreciate the beauty of Einstein’s ideas.
It will be hard for someone to come up with a simpler way to explain Einstein’s work - if you’re well versed on maths or physics, you will probably find this annoying or maybe too dumbed down. But
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this isn’t for you - it’s for all people that are curious about Einstein and our universe, can follow a logical discussion, but are not technical enough to follow a more detailed explanation. Not that this isn’t detailed, but Cox and Forshaw go to great lengths to hold your hand along the way and explain it all, using analogies and not a lot of maths to make their point.And it works. You might feel a bit lost at times, but things will fall into place. And hopefully you will also be able to appreciate the beauty of Einstein’s ideas.
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LibraryThing member tsunaminoai
Nice read. I did not know that its not exactly "energy" that is equal to mass times the speed of light squared. However, Brian Cox tends to be very scatter brained while discussing the issues of relativity and space-time curvature. He will sometimes wander from topic to topic while discussing
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something in-depth and it took a bit for me to keep track of where he was. I would have also liked to have seen more math. Cox spends several paragraphs each chapter apologizing to the layman about the two to three equations he presents in the succeeding sentences and then presents an equivalent to the Pythagorean theorem. I get it Brian, you are excited to share physics with the lay man, but you don't need to assume that no one has ever had calculus or, indeed, even algebra. Give us some credit and explain things with equations. If you want to pander, give the equation and explain in detail what it means so we can chew over it. Show Less
Awards
Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize (Shortlist — 2010)
Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize (Shortlist — 2010)
Language
Original publication date
2009-07-02
Physical description
256 p.; 5.51 inches
ISBN
0306819112 / 9780306819117