Six Roads from Newton (Wiley Popular Science)

By Edward Speyer and Speyer

Book Overview

Why is time relative to the observer? Can an atomic particle exist in two places at once? Is light a wave, a particle, or both? Six Roads from Newton is a lively tour through six monumental developments in physics since Newton: wave theory, field theory, statistical physics, special relativity, quantum theory, and general relativity. Together these crucial discoveries formed the basis of the modern revolution in physics, shattering Newton's view of the universe, and leading the way to the mind-boggling and fascinating questions at the cutting edge of physics today. With real-world examples that bring physics vividly to life, Edward Speyer explains each theoretical development, in-troducing the leading figures, their famous experiments, and a number of delightfully perplexing problems that have challenged physicists along the way--from the Paradox of the Three Polarizers to Maxwell's Demon and the infamous case of Schrodinger's Cat. "Entertaining and stimulating reading." --Journal of Modern Optics

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471159646
• ISBN13: 9780471159643
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: John Wiley &Sons
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

On Par With Richard Feynman:Clear,Educational,Entertaining

I read this book in 1998 and find myself revisiting it again and again. I love this book. I keep it along side "Six Easy Pieces" (by Richard Feyman) as one of the two books that have helped me understand the concepts of physics more than any other. Six Roads in fact compliments Six Easy Pieces by picking up where Feynman left off in his book, describing in greater detail "The Theory of Gravitation", complimenting Feynman's explanations of "Quantum Behavior" and moving into explanations of Relativity Theory (which Feyman deals very little with). Makes me wonder if Speyer wasn't consciously drawing from and complimenting Feynman's book. I can't give any higher recommendation to read this book. It's inspiring, fun to read, fun to reference, it's challenging and includes many graphs and some equations but it doesn't require prior knowledge of scientific jargon or advanced math, provides fundanmental explanations of a wide range of physical theories, and it gives an interesting perspective on the history of scientific thought that has led to those theories. The history of scientific thought, interactions of ideas, and achievements of great thinkers gave the book an engaging story, but ultimately, insight into the thoughts and equations themselves and the fundamental context of where those theories came from is the main feature and tremendous resource of this great science book. Buy this book! (and maybe I'll get to see more like it)

On Par With Richard Feynman:Clear,Educational,Entertaining

I read this book in 1998 and find myself revisiting it again and again. I love this book.I keep it along side "Six Easy Pieces" (by Richard Feyman) as one of the two books that have helped me understand the concepts of physics more than any other. Six Roads in fact compliments Six Easy Pieces by picking up where Feynman left off in his book, describing in greater detail "The Theory of Gravitation", complimenting Feynman's explanations of "Quantum Behavior" and moving into explanations of Relativity Theory (which Feyman deals very little with). Makes me wonder if Speyer wasn't consciously drawing from and complimenting Feynman's book. I can't give any higher recommendation to read this book. It's inspiring, fun to read, fun to reference, it's challenging and includes many graphs and some equations but it doesn't require prior knowledge of scientific jargon or advanced math, provides fundanmental explanations of a wide range of physical theories, and it gives an interesting perspective on the history of scientific thought that has led to those theories. The history of scientific thought, interactions of ideas, and achievements of great thinkers gave the book an engaging story, but ultimately, insight into the thoughts and equations themselves and the fundamental context of where those theories came from is the main feature and tremendous resource of this great science book. Buy this book! (and maybe I'll get to see more like it)