Preface |
viii |
|
Chapter 1 |
Introduction |
1 |
Revolutions and Science |
1 |
Dominant Themes in Physics |
3 |
Continuing Evolution of Scientific Knowledge--The Seven Ideas |
4 |
Physics Without Mathematics? |
8 |
Science and Other Areas of Human Endeavor--Distinctions and Similarities |
10 |
|
Chapter 2 |
Copernican Astronomy |
14 |
Early Scientific Stirrings in the Mediterranean Area |
15 |
Geocentric Theory of the Universe |
19 |
The Heliocentric Theory--Revival by Copernicus |
29 |
New Data and a New Theory |
45 |
New Discoveries and Arguments |
39 |
Kepler's Heliocentric Theory |
41 |
The Course of Scientific Revolutions |
48 |
|
Chapter 3 |
Newtonian Mechanics and Causality |
50 |
Aristotelian Physics |
50 |
Galilean Mechanics |
57 |
Logic, Mathematics, and Science |
65 |
Newtonian Mechanics |
70 |
Consequences and Implications |
81 |
|
Chapter 4 |
The Energy Concept |
84 |
Interactions and Conservation Laws |
84 |
Heat and Motion |
88 |
Conservation of Energy |
100 |
|
Chapter 5 |
Entropy and Probability |
106 |
Heat and Temperature |
108 |
The Natural Flow of Heat |
110 |
Transformation of Heat Energy into Other Forms of Energy |
110 |
Efficiency of Heat Engines |
117 |
The Thermodynamic or Absolute Temperature Scale |
123 |
The Third Law of Thermodynamics |
124 |
Energy Degradation, Unavailability, and Entropy |
125 |
Entropy Increase and Irreversibility |
128 |
Entropy as a Parameter of a System |
129 |
Probability and the Microscopic Interpretation of Entropy |
130 |
Entropy and Order: Maxwell's Demon |
134 |
Cosmological and Philosophical Implications: "Heat Death" of
theUniverse |
136 |
|
Chapter 6 |
Relativity |
139 |
Galilean-Newtonian Relativity |
140 |
Electromagnetism and Relative Motion |
144 |
Attempts to Detect the Ether |
156 |
Special Theory of Relativity |
160 |
General Theory of Relativity |
174 |
Influence of Relativity Theory on Philosophy, Literature, and Art |
183 |
|
Chapter 7 |
Quantum Theory and the End of Causality |
184 |
CavityorBlackbodyRadiation |
187 |
The Photoelectric Effect |
194 |
The Nuclear Atom and Atomic Spectra |
199 |
Quantum Theory, Uncertainty, and Probability |
207 |
The Use of Models in Describing Nature |
220 |
The Impact of Quantum Theory on Philosophy and Literature |
222 |
|
Chapter 8 |
Conservation Principles and Symmetries |
225 |
The Nuclear Force and Nuclear Structure |
227 |
Conservation Laws and Invariants |
234 |
Conservation Laws and Symmetries |
236 |
The Quark Model |
238 |
Summary of Present Knowledge |
244 |
|
|
References |
249 |
|
|
Index |
257 |