Cosmology (Oxford Physics) [Paperback]

Michael Rowan-Robinson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198518846 | ISBN-13: 978-0198518846 | Publication Date: September 26, 1996 | Edition: 3

This book offers a completely up-to-date introduction to the exciting science of cosmology. It describes the very latest discoveries that have led astronomers and physicists ever closer to understanding the deepest secrets of the universe: its origin, evolution, and eventual fate. The author shows how today's technology has enabled scientists to exploit every clue hidden in the electromagnetic spectrum of radiating objects located at unimaginable distances from our solar system. The formation and aging of different types of stars and galaxies are considered, as are the dramatic phenomena of quasars and black holes. The Big Bang model of the universe is presented in Newtonian terms, and their derivation from the general theory of relativity is briefly sketched. For general readers with some science background, as well as undergraduates in physics and astronomy, the book offers a fascinating look at current cosmological knowledge. It ends with a discussion of 20 leading controversies and unanswered questions that scientists are attempting to resolve.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Leading cosmologist Michael Rowan-Robinson has updated his basic introduction to cosmology. . . .One of the most useful features is the final chapter, where he outlines 20 current "controversies" in cosmology."--SpaceViews

About the Author

Michael Rowan-Robinson, Professor, Department of Physics, Imperial College, London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3 edition (September 26, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198518846
• ISBN-13: 978-0198518846
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,194,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars -- This book is not very thorough or inviting --, April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cosmology (Oxford Physics) (Paperback)

Unlike the previous reviewer, I find this book is not good for a first approach of cosmology. (By the way, the early editions contain many errors - avoid them.) Graphs are not always well labelled or commented and also tend to be somewhat confusing. The style is not very inviting and derivations are often sped through. It would appear Rowan-Robinson is not a very good communicator of concepts - this is rather evident in the part dealing with open and closed models of the Universe (different spacetime metrics), where explanatory text is almost totally absent.

The part at the end (most recent edition) gives an interesting overview of current problems and recent theories, although it does not delve into exciting philosophical implications or ideas.

For more approachable presentations of Cosmology, especially for beginners, I would recommend books by John Gribbin. For more thorough exploration with more heavy maths included: Peter Coles or Eric Linder. For proper explorations of the philosophy dealing with and arising from Cosmology, look to Carl Sagan or Hubert Reeves.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction, April 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cosmology (Oxford Physics) (Paperback)

When I was teaching high-school physics, a group of motivated students asked me to teach them some astronomy and cosmology. So I taught them the basics of astronomy from a Dutch book, and chose Rowan-Robinson's book as the textbook for the cosmology part. I chose it because of its modest size and lenght, its relatively recent publication date and its accessibility. Nevertheless, trying to teach 17-year-olds about relativity and such is an ambitious task, and I had my doubts whether or not the book was up to it. It was. Apart from having to make various derivations more explicit, the book proved to be self-contained and was highly useful. Therefore I strongly recommend it to anybody who's interested in modern cosmology, but has had no prior exposure to it. This is a great book to learn from!