Superstrings and Other Things: A Guide to Physics [Paperback]

Carlos I. Calle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0750307072 | ISBN-13: 978-0750307079 | Publication Date: October 1, 2001 | Edition: 1st

Superstrings and Other Things: A Guide to Physics takes readers on a fascinating journey through physics. Written in an accessible style, this comprehensive guide explains the basic concepts of motion, energy, and gravity, through to the latest theories about the structure of matter, the origin of the universe, and the beginning of time. Fully illustrated throughout, the book explores major discoveries and the scientists behind them, from Galileo and Newton, Einstein and Bohr to Feynman and Hawking. Numerous examples of physics in everyday situations are provided and explained in an easy-to-understand way.

Intended for the general reader with an inquiring mind, this guide will also be indispensable to students and scientists in other disciplines, and professionals in non-scientific fields who would like to understand the basic concepts of physics.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nuclear physicist Calle, NASA's principle investigator of Martian soil, traces physics from Newton's law of inertia, to the forebears of quantum mechanics, to Gell-Mann's quarks, to NASA's COBE satellite (which detected "the very remnants of creation") and all the big and small wheels en route. Calle's sizable, conversational, well-rounded history-cum-lay-guide makes of physics a fun, accessible narrative peopled by fanatics and iconoclasts. Illus.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Carlos I. Calle is a senior research scientist at NASA Kennedy Space Center where he leads the electromagnetic physics research group. He received his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Ohio University. He is NASA’s leading expert on electrostatic phenomena on planetary surfaces and is currently developing instrumentation for future Mars explorations missions. He has published over 80 scientific papers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 647 pages
• Publisher: Institute of Physics; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750307072
• ISBN-13: 978-0750307079
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,536,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carlos I. Calle is a senior research scientist and laboratory director at NASA Kennedy Space Center. In addition to publishing over 150 scientific papers, he is the author of four books for the general reader which have been translated into 6 languages.

His most recent book, The Universe - Order Without Design, presents the current cosmological theories, exploring the problem of origins and the exciting possibility that science can explain the existence of the universe. His discussion is honest and rooted in science, evaluating each theory in light of the testable predictions that they make and that can be verified in the not too distant future.

He writes his books in his library at home. When he is away from his NASA lab and not working on a new book, he enjoys drawing and sculpting.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very useful overview of physics, June 28, 2002

By 

Y. WU "YX" (Aurora, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Superstrings and Other Things: A Guide to Physics (Paperback)

Written by a NASA scientist, this book tells the story of physics from the early Greeks to the present scientific discoveries. The basic concepts of physics are explained and illustrated with helpful diagrams and photographs. Newtonian and Galilean physics, the laws of thermodynamics and electromagnetism, relativity, quantum physics and even nuclear physics are all in this comprehensive book. Spending the time with this book will give you a head start toward understanding what constitutes the universe and how the universe works. There are wonderful anecdotes from the history of science and many interesting current applications of physics to every day life. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very useful overview of physics, June 28, 2002

By 

Y. WU "YX" (Aurora, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Superstrings and Other Things: A Guide to Physics (Paperback)

Written by a NASA scientist, this book tells the story of physics from the early Greeks to the present scientific discoveries. The basic concepts of physics are explained and illustrated with helpful diagrams and photographs. Newtonian and Galilean physics, the laws of thermodynamics and electromagnetism, relativity, quantum physics and even nuclear physics are all in this comprehensive book. Spending the time with this book will give you a head start toward understanding what constitutes the universe and how the universe works. There are wonderful anecdotes from the history of science and many interesting current applications of physics to every day life. Highly recommended.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to learn physics on your own, April 21, 2002

By 

Scott D. Wilcox (Roanoke, VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superstrings and Other Things: A Guide to Physics (Paperback)

If you want to learn physics on your own, I would recommend this book. I did not take physics in high school or college and always sort of regreted it. I bought this book a couple of months ago and began to read it. The first chapter is wonderful. I did not enjoy the second chapter as much and would recommend skimming over it. From there on it's very informative. I particularly recommend the section on modern physics. It really allows you to make sense of the new science stuff that gets reported in The New York Times.

Some of the most interestings things about this book are the special notes that are included in all chapters with applications to everyday stuff. They bring what you are reading down to the practical level.

All in all, an excellent book. It's worth your effort.