Time, Space and Things (Canto) 3rd Edition by B. K. Ridley (PDF)

Description

There are some wonderfully bizarre ideas in physics, and it seems a pity to keep them locked up in small boxes, available only to an esoteric coterie of key holders. Brian Ridley’s book sets out to survey in simple, nonmathematical terms what physics has to say about the fundamental structure of the universe. He deals with all the basic concepts of modern physics: elementary particles, black holes, gravity, quantum theory, time, mass, relativity and energy; this new edition also includes coverage of more recently emerging ideas, including strings, imaginary time and chaos. Ridley’s clear and witty account gives an exciting introduction to the nonspecialist while offering a fresh perspective to scientists themselves.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review ‘The style is clear and makes pleasant reading … this is an excellent book.’ Physics Education’ … goes further, more elegantly, than any other book known to me in emulating for today what Arthur Eddington achieved in his The Nature of the Physical World in 1928′. New Scientist’Time, Space and Things is an excellent book to be recommended to every student of physics.’ American Journal of Physics Book Description Brian Ridley’s book sets out to survey in simple, non-mathematical terms what physics has to say about the fundamental structure of the universe. From the Back Cover There are some wonderfully bizarre ideas in physics, and it seems a pity to keep them locked up in small boxes, available only to an esoteric coterie of key holders. Brian Ridley’s book sets out to survey in simple, non-mathematical terms what physics has to say about the fundamental structure of the universe. He deals with all the basic concepts of modern physics: elementary particles, black holes, gravity, quantum theory, time, mass, relativity and energy; this new edition also includes coverage of more recently emerging ideas including strings, imaginary time and chaos. Ridley’s clear and witty account gives an exciting introduction to the non-specialist while offering a fresh perspective to scientists themselves. Read more

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐The author seems very adept at bringing to light the fundamental essence of physics knowledge, particularly the unresolved questions. With his help, I was able to pinpoint what appears to be a surviving trace of Aristotle in physics, particularly in wave theory.For some time I’ve sort of surmised that a wave is actually no more than a pattern or grouping of particles. As such, it is simply an object like any other object. Reading Ridley’s book, it is clearly apparent to me that distinguishing between waves and objects has created a difficulty.The soliton is an attempt to reconcile this difficulty. Differentiating it from waves and objects may simply be a persisting affinity for Aristotelian categorization with some Newtonian mechanics mixed in. (Thankfully, it is at least uncorrupted by probability theory?)Opening the discussion of electomagnetic vs mechanical waves, the author states: “But then horrible questions arise. Mechanical waves cannot travel through space devoid of matter. They are a cooperative motion of atoms or molecules, and their velocity is determined by the properties of the matter in which they travel. … “So what, materially, is vibrating in empty space?”Well, this is rather interesting, you know? I mean, can it be more clear that by creating a philosophical divide between waves and objects, we are presented with such a problem? By recognizing that waves are simply patterns of particles, we escape from this problem, since it is no mystery that objects traverse empty space (if such even exists, at least outside the place reserved for Newton’s actual accomplishments).There’s also the matter of the anomoly of diffraction of waves (Shroedinger) which, I believe, is hereby resolved. What’s next? :-)In any case, my hat’s off to Ridley – he’s amazing.

⭐I’ll never forget the excitement I felt when I first read an earlier edition of this book about 8 years ago. I know of no other book of comparable size which surveys so concisely and with such inspiration what physics has to say about the universe. All using little or no mathematics, in less than 200 pages!This book brings to the reader a genuine wonder for the universe we live in. Ridley is very adept at pointing out not only what we understand, but also what we don’t. “Physics is about the simple things of the Universe,” Ridley begins, and this so true! So many things we can only observe, puzzle over, and not have the slightest idea of how to understand on some deeper level. If you want to know what we do know, and get a glimmer of how much we don’t—this is the book for you.I find myself re-reading this book at least once a year, just for the sense of mystery, excitement, and awe it brings to me. I heartily recommend it!

⭐This deceptively slim volume, while an easy read, is so densely packed as to be nearly impossible to digest in a single reading. Ridley expertly illustrates fundamental concepts in a warm, humor-rich voice that in no way resembles the dusty monotone of the average classroom text. I plan to re-read it many times over.

⭐I took six months to read this book’s 160 pages. I really had to concentrate hard and sometimes I read a page two or three times before I got what it meant – maybe (I should add that I have a degree in foreign languages and that my science and maths teachers at school were a disgrace) Yet, I found the idea of explaining modern physics and all its very, very strange concepts to people who are not scientists or advanced students a great idea, and I am grateful to Mr Ridley for his attempt, which is I think successful. I suppose every reader will find different chapters more or less accessible – the one on quarks definitely defeated me, and I still find wave packets a tricky idea, but I have a much clearer idea of relativity, and I know what the uncertainty principle is and so much more – and I am happy that I do because we all should know the basic truths about reality, every human being who is not struggling to survive should want to know about the universe, and matter, time and space. The language is very pleasant, and I especially appreciated the choice of quotations from English literature (from Milton to Carroll to Blake: Energy is eternal delight). The last chapters, about the dangers of modern physics – namely, to go hunting for what is not there, is really interesting, and the final comparison of the modern ohysicist to a fell walker, who must beware of crags and wrong tracks, and know that after one peak, there’ll be a new one to climb was fascinating.

⭐excellent book

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