Why Does E=mc2?
(And Why Should We Care?)
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4.3 • 6 Ratings
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- £6.49
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- £6.49
Publisher 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British theoretical physicists Cox and Forshaw offer lay readers a fascinating account of modern scientists' view of the world, and how it got that way. Without using complicated mathematics, Cox and Forshaw show how the search for "mathematical consistency" can guide scientists in finding the "laws that describe physical reality." The authors provide the historical context that set the stage for Einstein's discovery, providing an easy-to-grasp explanation of counterintuitive experimental evidence, demonstrating how the speed of light acts as a "cosmic speed limit," the exception that proves the rule of relativity. The authors also clearly explain the tide shift that Einstein caused, transforming scientists' understanding of the world-"common-sense notions regarding space and time are dashed and replaced by something entirely new, unexpected, and elegant." Though the basics are covered in detail, there's plenty here for science buffs to ponder.
Customer Reviews
No maths required!
A mind blowing journey through Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity. This book explains why – for example – time really does slow down when clocks speed up (and so why we age more slowly when we travel more quickly). Abundantly illustrated with easy-to-grasp analogies (as well as a lot of background tales from the history of science), Professors Cox and Forshaw do an excellent job of opening this subject up to the ordinary reader – it’s clear they’re used to explaining counterintuitive theories to folk whose experience is limited to the everyday. They will coax your imagination well out of its comfort zone and into sector Mind-Blown. The maths is optional.
I loved this book. I might have to read it again.