Great Ideas in Physics (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Robert Mayer (1814-1878), the son of the owner of an apothecary shop, was born in Heilbronn, Wurttemberg (now Baden Wurttemberg), Germany..." (more)
Key Phrases: reversible machine operating, bench rod, initial vertical height, William Thomson, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What does it mean to say that time and space are relative? How can an electron be in two places at once? For anyone who wants a basic understanding of the physical processes that define the universe, Lightman provides the perfect introduction in Great Ideas in Physics. In addition to explaining physics, he brings in relevant passages from philosophy and literature to demonstrate how these great ideas have impacted the world of thought.

From the Back Cover

The conservation of energy, the second law of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics­­together, these concepts form the foundation upon which modern physics was built. But the influence of these four landmark ideas has extended far beyond hard science. There is no aspect of twentieth-century culture­­including the arts, social sciences, philosophy, and politics­­that has not been profoundly influenced by them.

In Great Ideas in Physics, Alan Lightman clearly explains the physics behind each of the four great ideas and deftly untangles for lay readers such knotty concepts as entropy, the relativity of time, and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Throughout the book he uses excerpts from the writings of scientific luminaries such as Newton, Kelvin, Einstein, and de Broglie to help place each in its proper historical perspective. And with the help of expertly annotated passages from the works of dozens of writers, philosophers, artists, and social theorists, Lightman explores the two-way influences of these landmark scientific concepts on our entire human culture and the world of ideas.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 3 edition (June 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071357386
• ISBN-13: 978-0071357388
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #627,184 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I have to agree with the reviewer Jesse Engelberg..., November 12, 2007

By	Matt Keaton (Charleston, WV) - See all my reviews

A book like this is sort of a double-edged sword. Sure, when dealing with the lay person whose interest in physics (and the like) is sparked more by a temporal curiosity than by a need to know, 'popular' works like this tend to cover as much as necessary in as little space as possible, and in a way that translates easily for the non-specialist. As such, I applaud Dr. Lightman for not only attempting to educate the "simply curious" on very complicated areas of science but actually doing a noble job in the process.

Nevertheless, there are problems by which educators and science enthusiasts alike will simply cringe when reading (as Jesse Engelberg intimated). One example from among the questionable portions of the text will serve to prove this point. In the opening section concerning the Conservation of Energy, the author does a remarkable job in deriving many of the equations leading up to the first law of thermodynamics; however, he makes a much-too-often-committed mistake concerning molecular motion at absolute zero. From page 44 the text reads:

"Zero degrees Kelvin is called absolute zero. It is the coldest that any substance can be. From [Equation (I-14){provided on page 43}], we see that absolute zero means that <v^2>=0, which can be achieved only if every single molecule in the substance is motionless (aside from ordered motions). If even a single molecule is moving, then <v^2> will be larger than zero, and the substance will have a temperature higher than absolute zero."

Aside from the author's unexplored meaning of what an "ordered motion" is (perhaps this is the vibrational motion contended for in the following), anyone amply versed in Physical Chemistry and Thermodynamics is well aware that molecules are motionless at absolute zero only when referring to translational and rotational motion--not vibrational motion. Again, this is where a book like this would lose some of its luster by having to explain the difference to a general reader, but to say that molecules become motionless at absolute zero is utterly wrong and serves only to perpetuate misconceieved and erroneous notions of science among those reading such works for the first time. In fact, one of the fundamental tenets of quantum theory is this idea that all matter continues to execute vibrational motion, EVEN AT ABSOLUTE ZERO. It would be hard to believe that someone as educated as the author actually believes such a common, grievous error to be the case; hence, he should have qualified the statement a little more clearly by pointing out that translational and rotational motion are being referred to in the context (which of course would have demanded a longer and more arduous discussion on each type of motion) or he should have simply taken this portion out of the text.

As such, I am in agreement with the final comment made by Jesse Engelberg, namely: "buy this book if you are already conversant with the physics it discusses (thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and relativity) and want to read about the history and philosophy of them." While I do not see the need to "only" buy the book if one is already well exposed to physics and has a desire to learn its history, I would warn new readers to pay more attention to the history and development of the ideas delineated in the work rather than some of the final equations (which do not always conform to scientific convention anyway) and quantitative data.

Very simply, get a feel for what is being said as a whole and seek the meat of the details elsewhere.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas in a Digestible Format, November 4, 2004

By	Daniel R. Sanderman (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Alan Lightman, Senior Lecturer in Physics at MIT and author of the recent best-seller _Einstein's Dreams_, serves up four fundamental concepts that form the foundation of modern physics in an easy-to-read, comfortable manner. Not being a physics buff, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which Lightman commands and communicates his subject. After developing a beginner's understanding of the conservation of energy, the second law of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics, it is fascinating to watch each of these ideas find traction in the world around you. For those who might view physics as an esoteric field that bears no real relevance to the lives of ordinary people, Lightman encourages them to look at the impact of these ideas, not only the science of the modern world, but on the social, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of the modern era as well. By weaving passages from writers, philosophers, theologians, and social theorists, Lightman explores the wide-ranging impact that physics has had on every academic field imaginable.

While some may find the text to be pedestrian and lack the hard math of more ambitious texts, this book is not geared towards experts and should not be considered anything more than a fun read for the informed. If you're ready to begin exploring the world of physics, this is a nice place to start. Just be prepared to view the world differently after you're done.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quantum Electrodynamics for the Rest of Us, October 22, 2001

By	joseph mancino (Storrs, CT United States) - See all my reviews

Whether the physics in this book is perfect or not, one thing is certain: the physics is readable. This is not a book for the aspiring physicist, I made that mistake. This is a book for a person curious about some of the major developments in the subject but NOT interested in the minutia and the math behind the theory. Physics is not just for nerds with overpowered calculators, anybody can be fascinated by this stuff.