LET THERE BE LIGHT (2ND ED): The Story of Light from Atoms to Galaxies (Second Edition) - Softcover

ANN BRESLIN & ALEX MONTWILL

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1848167598 ISBN 13: 9781848167599

Publisher: ICP, 2013

Synopsis

This book is the first of its kind devoted to the key role played by light and electromagnetic radiation in the universe. Readers are introduced to philosophical hypotheses such as the economy, symmetry and the universality of natural laws, and are then guided to practical consequences such as the rules of geometrical optics and even Einstein's well-known but mysterious relationship, E = mc2. Most chapters feature a pen picture of the life and character of a relevant scientific figure. These 'Historical Interludes' include, among others, Galileo's conflicts with the Inquisition, Fourier's taunting of the guillotine, Neils Bohr and World War II, and the unique character of Richard Feynman. This second edition has been revised to present information in a more accessible style. Most of the mathematical jargon and equations from the first edition have been transformed into layman's terms. More historical materials have been included to account for the application and understanding of the phenomena of light from pre-historic to present times. The book will be of interest to students and teachers, as well as general readers interested in physics.

About this title

Review

I found it wonderful: interesting and amusing ... I appreciated the easy but accurate way the arguments are presented, the very nice figures and drawings, the historical interludes with `gossips' scarcely known, etc. The choice of the arguments is also interesting. --Professor Giorgio Romano, Università INFN, Salerno

It is a unique type of book -- informative, witty, cultured and erudite ... I loved the observation effect of multiple polaroids -- mind blowingly fascinating stuff which can be appreciated by all ... approaching optics via Fermat and the lifeguard also keeps the fascination level up while the historical interludes keep our feet on the ground by humanising the tale. --Professor Colin Latimer, The Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland

The combined effort has given us this wonderful survey of how light comes into physics and how it is even today impossible to really understand. --Sveinn Bjarman, Uppsala University, Sweden

It is a very beautiful book. I like its plenitude of diagrams and cartoons, and its historical and biographical interludes ... it seems admirably suitable as background material for bright young students of Science/Physics.
--Professor Frank Imbusch, National University of Ireland, Galway

Edition details

• Publisher: ICP
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1848167598
• ISBN 13: 9781848167599
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 552