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It Must Be Beautiful: Great Equations of Modern Science (Hardcover)

by Graham Farmelo (Editor) "The twentieth century chose some undeserving characters to be its celebrities, but it selected its favourite scientist with excellent taste..." (more)
Key Phrases: spaceship frame, geodesic deviation, great equations, Logistic Map, World War, Green Bank (more...)
4.4 out of 5 stars  (11 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
The power of equations can seem magical, writes MIT physics professor Frank Wilczek in an essay on the Dirac Equation, which describes the movement of quantum particles. Like the brooms created by the Sorcerer's Apprentice, they can take on a life of their own, giving birth to consequences that their creator did not expect, cannot control, and may even find repugnant. Though it seems like an odd reversal of the scientific method to do the math first and then find the data that fit, it has happened time and again. These 11 essays contributed by various scientists and science writers (e.g., Roger Penrose, Peter Galison, Oliver Morton, and Steven Weinberg) describe scientific advances that derived from mathematical theory such as Einstein's thought experiments on relativity, a game theory equation that predicted animal behavior, or the discovery that the mathematics of chaos describes the real-world phenomenon. A fascinating history of science for educated nonmathematical readers; for larger public and academic libraries. Amy Brunvand, Univ. of Utah Lib., Salt Lake City
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Equations lie at the heart of many of the most successful scientific theories. This book presents the great equations of modern science for nonmathematical readers, attempting to convey some of their power and beauty. The editor cast a wide net in gathering these 12 essays, which encompass the formula for the chemical reaction that destroys ozone; an explanation of two equations that underlie the Internet and data transmission generally; mathematical mapping applied to evolution; editor Farmelo's own explication of Planck's energy formula; and more. Two of the big names in physics are on Farmelo's roster of writers, Roger Penrose and Steven Weinberg, as are twentieth-century physics' most fecund formulas: Einstein's special and general relativity equations; Schrodinger's wave equation; the Dirac equation; and others. Contributors include Peter Galison, Aisling Irwin, and Robert May. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details
  • Hardcover: 283 pages
  • Publisher: Granta Books (February 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1862074798
  • ISBN-13: 978-1862074798
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #737,352 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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  • Also Available in:  |  Paperback  |  All Editions