The Wonderful World of Relativity: A precise guide for the general reader - Softcover

Steane, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198789203 ISBN 13: 9780198789208

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017

Synopsis

This book provides a lively and visual introduction to Einstein's theory of relativity. It brings to life the excitement of this fascinating subject, for an audience including young people at school (post-16) and the general public with an interest in modern physics. It is different from existing books in that is uses many diagrams and simple equations (the reader is carefully guided through them), and richly rewards the reader with beautiful mathematical and physical insights. It begins by introducing spacetime, in the familiar context of low velocities. It then shows how Einstein's theory forces us to understand time in a new way. Paradoxes and puzzles are introduced and resolved, and the book culminates in a thorough unfolding of the relation between mass and energy. The book draws on the author's many years of experience in writing articles and reviews for a non-expert readership, and presenting physics to school pupils.

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Steane, Department of Physics, University of Oxford

Andrew M. Steane was born in Bath, England (1965) and educated at Christ's Hospital school and Oxford University. He has been Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford since 2002 and has been a Visiting Professor at various institutes. Steane was awarded the Maxwell Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics in 2000 for his work on quantum error correction. He has given numerous public lectures and school demonstrations in physics, and in the interaction of science and Christian faith. He is the author of 'Relativity Made Relatively Easy' (OUP, 2012) and 'Faitful to Science: The Role of Science in Religion' (OUP, 2014).

Review

"This is a book which is really irreproachable."

--Hans Bouma, NVOX

"Steane's book is original - it really starts with a level accessible to gifted schoolchildren and then guides the reader in a step-by-step manner and without much formalism to the central concepts of the theory. The book is perhaps as elementary as it can be without making undue
oversimplifications."

--Claus Kiefer, University of Cologne, Germany

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0198789203
• ISBN 13: 9780198789208
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248