Forces in Physics: A Historical Perspective

(Hardback)

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Description

Force is one of the most elementary concepts that must be understood in order to understand modern science; it is discussed extensively in textbooks at all levels and is a requirement in most science guidelines. It is also one of the most challenging - how could one idea be involved in such disparate physical phenomena as gravity and radioactivity Forces in Physics helps the science student by explaining how these ideas originally were developed and provides context to the stunning conclusions that scientists over the centuries have arrived at. It covers the history of all of the four traditional fundamental forces - gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force - and shows how these forces have, over the years, allowed physicists to better understand the nature of the physical world. Forces in Physics: A Historical Perspective traces the evolution of the concept from the earliest days of the Ancient Greeks to the contemporary attempt to form a GUT (Grand Unified Theory): Aristotle and others in Ancient Greece who developed ideas about physical laws and the introduction of forces into nature; Newton and others in the Scientific Revolution who discovered that forces like gravity applied throughout the universe; the 19th century examinations of thermodynamics and the forces of the very small; and 20th century developmentsrelativity, quantum mechanics, and more advanced physicsthat revolutionized the way we understand force. The volume includes a glossary of terms, a timeline of important events, and a bibliography of resources useful for further research.

Reviews

The book includes several illustrations, end-of-chapter notes, a good bibliography, a helpful index, a chronology of concept of force, and a brief appendix that provides the relevant mathematics Highly recommended. All readers/libraries. * Choice *

Author Bio

Steven N. Shore is professor of Astrophysics at the University of Pisa. He was until recently a professor of Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Indiana - South Bend. His books include The Tapestry of Modern Astrophysics and Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and he is an associate editor for the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.