This popular book on special relativity was first published in Moscow back in 1961 under the Russian title ' ? , ', which can be roughly translated as 'Is it evident? No, it's unexplored yet!'This clear exposition of the history of the development of physical ideas which eventually led to the discovery of special relativity is a narration of how physicists, from Galileo, Newton to Lorentz, Poincare and Einstein were distracted in their reflections by numerous fallacies (like aether, dragged or not). Then by experiment, it was finally understood that the laws of cinematics and dynamics of the objects moving at high speed can only be formulated with physical definions for what is distance, time or force. After that and from the two basic Einstein postulates - the principle of relativity and the constancy of the speed of light - everything else followed.As the emphasis is on being exact from the scientific viewpoint, it is also accessible to any person with a high school background. The last chapter 'Photon dreams' is addressed to science fiction fans. However, the author proves to the disappointed reader that the laws of physics that we know do not allow the construction of spaceships that could reach even the nearest stars during the life span of the team.

Dawkin's militant atheism is well known; his profound faith less well known In this book, atheist philosopher Eric Steinhart explores the spiritual dimensions of Richard Dawkins' books, which are shown to encompass: * the meaning and purpose of life * an appreciation of Platonic beauty and truth * a deep belief in the rationality of the universe * an aversion to both scientism and nihilism As an atheist, Dawkins strives to develop a scientific alternative to theism, and while he declares that science is not a religion, he also proclaims it to be a spiritual enterprise. His books are filled with fragmentary sketches of this 'spiritual atheism', resembling a great unfinished cathedral. This book systematises and completes Dawkins' arguments and reveals their deep roots in Stoicism and Platonism. Expanding on Dawkins' ideas, Steinhart shows how atheists can develop powerful ethical principles, compelling systems of symbols and images, and meaningful personal and social practices. Believing in Dawkins is a rigorous and potent entreaty for the use of science and reason to support spiritually rich and optimistic ways of thinking and living.

Unlike many textbooks or popular science books, A Simple Guide to Popular Physics has truly been crafted for the uninitiated or those spooked by the subject's complexity. Harris's inviting guide promises to give "absolute beginners" from "teens to centenarians" a basic grounding in particle physics, quantum physics, and cosmology-all without making readers do math. With the goal of introducing the basics and encouraging readers to explore more deeply afterwards, Harris notes "Like the fish we have no notion of what is beyond the boundaries of our knowledge, but unlike the fish, we know there is something." He starts by presenting those boundaries, the fundamentals of classic physics (Newton's law, states of matter, types of energy), with crisp clarity before laying out an accessible explanation of Einstein's theory of relativity, the structure of the atom, the mysteries of quantum mechanics and cosmology. Readers will not need to search online for key terms or explanations of concepts that have been glossed over. Instead, one by one, with patience and good humor, Harris introduces each of these building blocks of our universe, taking a little time to invite readers to contemplate the momentousness of the information, as in the chapter titled nothing less than "What Is Reality?" The watchword, here, is clarity, which Harris offers throughout, with professional illustrations and illuminating accounts of experiments and breakthroughs, offering a solid foundation for understanding and future reading.

Wie entsteht die Lorentz-Kraft? Was haben Felder mit Teilchen zu tun? Wieso ist Eichinvarianz anders? Leonard Susskind und Art Friedman erklaren nicht alles, was es uber Spezielle Relativitatstheorie und Elektrodynamik zu wissen gibt - sondern alles Wichtige. Mit diesem Buch bekommen begeisterte Physik-Amateure die notwendige Mathematik und Formeln an die Hand, die sie fur ein wirkliches Verstandnis benoetigen. Die Autoren erklaren mit witzigen und hilfreichen Dialogen, grundlegenden UEbungen und glasklaren Erlauterungen die Spezielle Relativitatstheorie und Elektrodynamik so einfach wie moeglich, aber nicht einfacher.