Observational Foundations of Physics

ISBN-13: 9780521455978 / Angielski / Miękka / 1994 / 180 str.

Alan Cook; Sir Alan H. Cook

Opis

This intriguing book examines the questions of how the ways in which we observe the world determine theories of physics and how we can get reliable results that enable us to make secure predictions. The first chapters deal with the theories of quantum mechanics and relativity and are followed by a discussion of chaotic dynamics. The uncertainty of observations and probabilistic agruments in physics are then treated. Finally, it is argued that the success of prediction is reason for believing in the existence of a world independent of ourselves.

Recenzje

'I found this a stimulating book … The strength of the book is its straightforward untechnical style. There is plenty of food for thought.' Contemporary Physics

Spis treści

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Standards of time and equations of motion; 3. Observations at a distance: Special relativity; 4. Microphysics: Relativistic quantum mechanics; 5. Indeterminacy in theory and observation; 6.Why does mathematical physics work?; 7. Probable argument; 8. Conclusion; Appendix; References.