The Quantum Universe
Everything That Can Happen Does Happen
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3.6 • 102 Ratings
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
The Quantum Universe brings together two authors on a brilliantly ambitious mission to show that everyone can understand the deepest questions of science.
But just what is quantum physics? How does it help us understand the world? Where does it leave Newton and Einstein? And why, above all, can we be sure that the theory is good?
The bizarre behaviour of the atoms and energy that make up the universe has led to some very woolly pronouncements on the nature of all interconnectedness. Here, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw give us the real science, and reveal the profound theories that allow for concrete, yet astonishing, predictions about the world.
This is our most up-to-date picture of reality.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In their newest, the University of Manchester physics team that produced Why Does E=mc2? aims to make quantum theory "perhaps the prime example of the infinitely esoteric becoming the profoundly useful" understandable for a general audience, explaining not only what it is and how it works, but why it is important. Beginning with a brief scientific history that will be familiar to anyone who's completed college physics (but accessible to those who have not), Cox and Forshaw review Newton's laws and the discoveries of Becquerel, Rutherford, Bohr, and Heisenberg before turning to their explanation of particles and waves, as inspired by Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winner described by his friend Freeman Dyson as simultaneously "all genius, all buffoon." The authors also go on to explain the origin of the periodic table, strong and weak nuclear forces, "Why We Don't Fall Through the Floor," and myriad other interesting topics. Though Cox and Forshaw state that their goal is to "demystify quantum theory," readers will nevertheless be confronted with plenty of equations and graphs rather than anecdotes and photos. Illus.
Customer Reviews
I understood it, but understand why some can't
Quite a few people don't seem to understand this book, I'm only 14 and I did so... I did try reading it last year but only a couple of pages a month, bad idea! It confused me, so about two weeks ago I started it again (from the beginning) and I understood it this time!
Only negative comment is on the iBooks download I noticed two typos, but I had a physical copy, as well, in which the typos didn't appear.
Awful
Confusing and not written in a way that makes the subject interesting. It reads more like a university textbook for quantum theory. Very confusing and difficult to follow. I wish I hadn't wasted my money on this.
Disappointing
I purchased this after a reading a positive review in a newspaper. In fact, it turned out to be very disappointing. It offers no new insights, and the laborious "clock" analogy used throughout will be of no help to the layman. It is neither fish nor fowl, sitting halfway between a popular book and an academic work, while failing to satisfy either audience. Don't let the fame of one of the author's influence you, there are much better and accessible books on Quantum Mechanics available. If I'd bought a hard copy, it would now be in the local charity shop.