A well-researched but sometimes confusing look at gravity and its effects.
A debut science book offers an overview of several aspects of physics theory.
In this volume, Walsh presents concise explanations of the physics of gravity and gravitational fields as well as the nature of dark matter. The short work is divided into two parts, one for each topic, and relies on both established theory and examples to illustrate the concepts—among others, the author explores Einstein’s “man in a carriage,” a way of depicting how people moving at different speeds observe their surroundings. Walsh also uses Newton’s cradle as a method of explaining how kinetic energy is crucial to motion. The book reviews the effects of gravity as they are experienced on Earth before moving into the wider solar system. Kinetic energy is at the core of the volume’s interpretation of the laws of physics. There are many references to “vis viva,” the historical term for the energy of motion, and the work’s conclusion is that humans do indeed exist within a field of kinetic energy. Walsh clearly has a passion for his subject matter, but there are frequent perplexing and jargon-driven sentences (“This example shows us the energy is a result of a particular action we can specify as motion VS action of stored energy to motion”). Much of the prose would benefit from editing for clarity: “Let us note right now that the subject of energies transforming from one form to another is not needed for this discussion, but we have now noted this”; “Kinetic energy is working on, via in a body (under natural action in the universe, Newton’s first law action), and dark matter is working on a body in its area of existence (perhaps not only this).” In the concluding section, the equations demonstrating the connection between Neptune’s orbital speed and its position in the solar system rely on several apparently arbitrary values, making it unclear to readers exactly how Walsh arrives at an entirely reasonable conclusion. It is evident throughout the book that the author understands the physics involved and has deeply researched the subject, but the substance of his knowledge is not effectively conveyed to readers through the text. The volume may be of more value to those with some expertise in the subject, but novices should look elsewhere for an introduction.
A well-researched but sometimes confusing look at gravity and its effects.Pub Date: June 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5434-0998-7
Page Count: 60
Publisher: Xlibris
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An intriguing meditation on the nature of the universe and our attempts to understand it that should appeal to both...
Italian theoretical physicist Rovelli (General Relativity: The Most Beautiful of Theories, 2015, etc.) shares his thoughts on the broader scientific and philosophical implications of the great revolution that has taken place over the past century.
These seven lessons, which first appeared as articles in the Sunday supplement of the Italian newspaper Sole 24 Ore, are addressed to readers with little knowledge of physics. In less than 100 pages, the author, who teaches physics in both France and the United States, cogently covers the great accomplishments of the past and the open questions still baffling physicists today. In the first lesson, he focuses on Einstein's theory of general relativity. He describes Einstein's recognition that gravity "is not diffused through space [but] is that space itself" as "a stroke of pure genius." In the second lesson, Rovelli deals with the puzzling features of quantum physics that challenge our picture of reality. In the remaining sections, the author introduces the constant fluctuations of atoms, the granular nature of space, and more. "It is hardly surprising that there are more things in heaven and earth, dear reader, than have been dreamed of in our philosophy—or in our physics,” he writes. Rovelli also discusses the issues raised in loop quantum gravity, a theory that he co-developed. These issues lead to his extraordinary claim that the passage of time is not fundamental but rather derived from the granular nature of space. The author suggests that there have been two separate pathways throughout human history: mythology and the accumulation of knowledge through observation. He believes that scientists today share the same curiosity about nature exhibited by early man.
An intriguing meditation on the nature of the universe and our attempts to understand it that should appeal to both scientists and general readers.Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-18441-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Riverhead
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A magnificent account of a central reality of our times, incorporating deep scientific expertise, broad political and social knowledge, and ethical insight, and Idled with beautifully written biographical sketches of the men and women who created nuclear physics. Rhodes describes in detail the great scientific achievements that led up to the invention of the atomic bomb. Everything of importance is examined, from the discovery of the atomic nucleus and of nuclear fission to the emergence of quantum physics, the invention of the mass-spectroscope and of the cyclotron, the creation of such man-made elements as plutonium and tritium, and implementation of the nuclear chain reaction in uranium. Even more important, Rhodes shows how these achievements were thrust into the arms of the state, which culminated in the unfolding of the nuclear arms race. Often brilliantly, he records the rise of fascism and of anti-Semitism, and the intensification of nationalist ambitions. He traces the outbreak of WW II, which provoked a hysterical rivalry among nations to devise the bomb. This book contains a grim description of Japanese resistance, and of the horrible psychological numbing that caused an unparalleled tolerance for human suffering and destruction. Rhodes depicts the Faustian scale of the Manhattan Project. His account of the dropping of the bomb itself, and of the awful firebombing that prepared its way, is unforgettable. Although Rhodes' gallery of names and events is sometimes dizzying, his scientific discussions often daunting, he has written a book of great drama and sweep. A superb accomplishment.
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1986
ISBN: 0684813785
Page Count: 932
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1986
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