On the Shoulders of Giants

ISBN-13: 9781138429864 / Angielski / Twarda / 2017

Lines

Opis

Investigates the relationship between the disciplines of physics and mathematics and shows how many of the advances of 20th-century physics rely on mathematics developed with no particular physics application in mind. This book explains how the uncanny ability of formal and abstract mathematics can interpret the properties of the physical world.

Recenzje

"…very readable… On more than one occasion, I found myself saying 'Oh, yes', as Lines brought together historical strands of a familiar derivation. Of course I knew how it was done and where it came from-after Lines had pointed it out."
-Endeavour

"This book sets new standards in the popularization of both mathematics and physics. … cross-referencing gives the book a satisfying unity."
-Nature

"…a very interesting popular science book…"
-Australian and New Zealand Physicist

"His aim has been to demonstrate the value of mathematics in science. The value is undoubted, but few have established it so clearly and with such fresh examples. A large audience of people with some acquaintance with either of those subjects could read this book with profit."
-Mathematical Reviews

"…a beautifully written and highly entertaining book."
-Zentralblatt fur Mathematik

Spis treści

Introduction. From Aristotle to the structure of glass. From Euclid to general relativity. From plucking strings to electrons in solids. The perception of number: from integers to quaternions. From tiling floors to quasicrystals. Determinism: from Newton to quantum chaos. Symmetry: from Galois to superstrings. From coin tossing to entropy. Topology: from the bridges of Konigsberg to polymers. From parabolas to fractons. Motion: from Zeno to Schrödinger. Appendices. Index.

O autorze

M.E. Lines