Leggett, A. J.
The problems of physics / A.J. Leggett. - Oxford [Oxfordshire] ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1987. - viii, 192 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm - The Problems of science . - Problems of science. .
"An OPUS book."
Includes bibliographical references (pages 184-185) and index.
Setting the stage -- What are things made of? -- The universe: its structure and evolution -- Physics on a human scale -- Skeletons in the cupboard -- Outlook.
Is the universe infinite, or does it have an edge beyond which there is, quite literally, nothing? Do we live in the only possible universe? Why does it have one time and three space dimensions--or does it? What is it made of? What does it mean when we hear a new particle has been discovered? In what sense is the behavior of complex bodies "merely a consequence" of that of their atomic constituents? Will quantum mechanics eventually give way to a totally new description of the world, one whose features we cannot even begin to imagine? This book aims to give the non-specialist reader a general overview of what physicists think they do and do not know in some representative frontier areas of contemporary physics. After sketching out the historical background, A.J. Leggett goes on to discuss the current situation and some of the open problems in cosmology, high-energy physics, and condensed-matter physics. This book focuses not so much on recent achievements as on the fundamental problems at the heart of the subject, and emphasizes the provisional nature of our present understanding of things.
0192192051 0192891863 9780192192059 9780192891860 9780199211241 0199211248
87012278
GB8732942 bnb GBA784954 bnb
013637873 Uk
Physics.
Particles (Nuclear physics)
Condensed matter.
Cosmology.
Physique.
Particules (Physique nucl�eaire)
Mati�ere condens�ee.
Cosmologie.
Condensed matter.
Cosmology.
Particles (Nuclear physics)
Physics.
Natuurkunde.
Sterrenkunde.
Cosmologie.
Particules (physique nucl�eaire)
Mati�ere condens�ee.
Physics
QC21.2 / .L44 1987
530
The problems of physics / A.J. Leggett. - Oxford [Oxfordshire] ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1987. - viii, 192 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm - The Problems of science . - Problems of science. .
"An OPUS book."
Includes bibliographical references (pages 184-185) and index.
Setting the stage -- What are things made of? -- The universe: its structure and evolution -- Physics on a human scale -- Skeletons in the cupboard -- Outlook.
Is the universe infinite, or does it have an edge beyond which there is, quite literally, nothing? Do we live in the only possible universe? Why does it have one time and three space dimensions--or does it? What is it made of? What does it mean when we hear a new particle has been discovered? In what sense is the behavior of complex bodies "merely a consequence" of that of their atomic constituents? Will quantum mechanics eventually give way to a totally new description of the world, one whose features we cannot even begin to imagine? This book aims to give the non-specialist reader a general overview of what physicists think they do and do not know in some representative frontier areas of contemporary physics. After sketching out the historical background, A.J. Leggett goes on to discuss the current situation and some of the open problems in cosmology, high-energy physics, and condensed-matter physics. This book focuses not so much on recent achievements as on the fundamental problems at the heart of the subject, and emphasizes the provisional nature of our present understanding of things.
0192192051 0192891863 9780192192059 9780192891860 9780199211241 0199211248
87012278
GB8732942 bnb GBA784954 bnb
013637873 Uk
Physics.
Particles (Nuclear physics)
Condensed matter.
Cosmology.
Physique.
Particules (Physique nucl�eaire)
Mati�ere condens�ee.
Cosmologie.
Condensed matter.
Cosmology.
Particles (Nuclear physics)
Physics.
Natuurkunde.
Sterrenkunde.
Cosmologie.
Particules (physique nucl�eaire)
Mati�ere condens�ee.
Physics
QC21.2 / .L44 1987
530