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Assume the cow is a sphere. So begins this lively, irreverent, and informative look at everything from the physics of boiling water to cutting-edge research at the observable limits of the universe. Rich with anecdotes and accessible examples, Fear of Physics nimbly ranges over the tools and thought behind the world of modern physics, taking the mystery out of what is essentially a very human intellectual endeavour.
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A PHYSICIST, an engineer, and a psychologist are called in as consultants to a dairy farm whose production has been below par. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
A PHYSICIST, an engineer, and a psychologist are called in as consultants to a dairy farm whose production has been below par. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this book should be a legal requirement for all physics undergraduate courses. it is not a text book and does not contain any complex maths, so is accessible (and is highly recommended) to non-technical readers also.
what this book does wonderfully well that is sorely lacking in almost all text books and lectures is to give you a good idea of how physicists think and how they approach physical problems ... not the dry mathematical techniques, but such things as modelling, handling big numbers, approximation, etc
it positively radiates a love of physics and real joy in looking at the world aound us
for an even more accessible introduction to physics, try Krauss' other book: 'the physics of star trek' ... phasors on stun ...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In Fear of Physics, Lawrence Krauss sets out to explain how physicists think about the universe and how, by applying just a few fundamental principles, they are able to tackle new problems in pursuit of a deeper understanding. Adopting a structured approach, Krauss covers the processes (simplifying complex problems, orders of magnitude, etc.), progress (building on the existing body of knowledge and the connections between apparently disparate phenomena), and principles (specifically, scaling and symmetry) that contribute to the advance of theoretical physics. In the final chapter, he also allows himself the indulgence of speculating on the likelihood and desirability of a Theory of Everything.
The book serves as a useful description of how scientists probe the complex and often hidden connections between existing scientific theories for new insights and illustrates how they (and, just as importantly, we) can be confident in their findings, even if at times, the results can be palpably counter-intuitive. This is a fascinating and worthwhile read that demonstrates clearly how the current theoretical ideas are on a secure intellectual footing: moreover, Krauss' easygoing style and a gentle humour is as engaging as it is illuminating and anybody with an interest in the scientific process will surely enjoy this book.
Nonetheless, one cannot explain how physicists think without first describing what it is that they think about and it is here that Krauss seems to flounder. Whilst this book is more about physicists than it is about physics, a grasp of concepts such as relativity and symmetry are prerequisites to understanding the current direction of scientific research and, compared to other contemporary authors, some of Krauss' explanations of these ideas can seem clumsy and superficial. The result is a book that feels half-finished (or perhaps, twice as long as necessary) and thus, less than satisfying.
Notwithstanding these reservations, Krauss' spherical cow and perpetual motion machine are wonderful devices for describing how physicists adopt a pragmatic approach to novel ideas and explaining rule of thumb concepts: in fact, they are so good that they are probably worth the cover price alone. Moreover, most people considering this book will already be grounded in some of the more arcane ideas of modern physics, which, to some extent, should mitigate these limitations.
In summary, if you are seeking insight into how physicists go about their day jobs, you will doubtless find this text both enjoyable and informative. However, if you are looking for an introductory text in theoretical physics, there are titles that are, perhaps, more appropriate.
The book serves as a useful description of how scientists probe the complex and often hidden connections between existing scientific theories for new insights and illustrates how they (and, just as importantly, we) can be confident in their findings, even if at times, the results can be palpably counter-intuitive. This is a fascinating and worthwhile read that demonstrates clearly how the current theoretical ideas are on a secure intellectual footing: moreover, Krauss' easygoing style and a gentle humour is as engaging as it is illuminating and anybody with an interest in the scientific process will surely enjoy this book.
Nonetheless, one cannot explain how physicists think without first describing what it is that they think about and it is here that Krauss seems to flounder. Whilst this book is more about physicists than it is about physics, a grasp of concepts such as relativity and symmetry are prerequisites to understanding the current direction of scientific research and, compared to other contemporary authors, some of Krauss' explanations of these ideas can seem clumsy and superficial. The result is a book that feels half-finished (or perhaps, twice as long as necessary) and thus, less than satisfying.
Notwithstanding these reservations, Krauss' spherical cow and perpetual motion machine are wonderful devices for describing how physicists adopt a pragmatic approach to novel ideas and explaining rule of thumb concepts: in fact, they are so good that they are probably worth the cover price alone. Moreover, most people considering this book will already be grounded in some of the more arcane ideas of modern physics, which, to some extent, should mitigate these limitations.
In summary, if you are seeking insight into how physicists go about their day jobs, you will doubtless find this text both enjoyable and informative. However, if you are looking for an introductory text in theoretical physics, there are titles that are, perhaps, more appropriate.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an inspirational book that makes sense of all those everyday mysteries such as why planes don't (usually)fall out of the sky, using a small number of scientific concepts. Never fear physics again...
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