1 comments about Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity (Classical Theoretical Physics).

1. Simply stated, I don't consider this "the book" on the subject, but it is a most-have. It begins by developing some of the mathematical foundations needed to solve the problems; followed by some Newtonian mechanics (basic concepts: force, energy, motion in 1D-3D, and many examples and applications), and ends with special relativity. The topics are presented in a clear and straight-forward manner, although some of them were too simple and not as thorough as I wished.
   
   This book corresponds to a regular 1st semester in mechanics. It should be complemented with the second book (Classical Mechanics) which deals with non-inertial reference frames, systems of particles, rigid bodies, Lagrange equ. and Hamiltonian Theory.
   
   I give this book 4.5 stars (I'm a tough grader)

No comments about A Relativist's Toolkit: The Mathematics of Black-Hole Mechanics.

No comments about From Newman to Congar: The Idea of Doctrinal Development from the Victorians to the Second Vatican Council.

4 comments about A Journey into Gravity and Spacetime (Scientific American Library).

1. This is truely an amazing book. Wheeler does for General Relativity what Hawking did for Cosmology in "A Brief History of Time", and in some sense they are similar books. However Wheeler has a unique, quirky style of writing that makes the book an entertaining adventure to read.

   Wheeler is able to pull off a major accomplishment: He explains Einstein's General Relativity in a clear, straightforward manner, with a minimum of math. It's "conventional wisdom" that General Relativity is seriously serious stuff, the domain of hardcore Physics geeks. That doesn't faze Wheeler. He leads the reader along, gleefully pointing out the scenery, making it all look quite simple and understandable. And then all of a sudden, when you least expect it, you find he's derived and presented Einstein's field equations with only a teensy-tiny bit of algebra! Even if you know this stuff already, his presentation makes you think about it with a new perspective.

   And did I mention the illustrations? They are really exceptional.

   If you have any interest or dealings with GR, ya gotta have this book!




2. This author is one of the most briliant, the most optimistic, and the most enthusiastic writer in all of physics, and in this book, his competence as a physicist and his deep fascination with the physical world is brought out dramatically. He is clearly a man who is feeling a powerful sense of exhiliration of the discoveries now taking place in all areas of knowledge. His foundation and his theme in the book is a simple geometric principle, namely that the boundary of a boundary is zero. He then guides the reader, assumed to have a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics, in a splendid presentation of the power of this principle in gravitational physics.

   The first chapter is an overview of the history behind the subject, via the work of people who contributed to our current understanding of gravity. And then, with a masterfull use of diagrams he gives the reader a taste of the simplicity of the equivalence principle and the need to tack on an additional dimension (time) to the 3-dimensional space of everyday experience. The Pound-Rebka experiment is discussed as one that illustrates the idea of the spacetime interval, and the role of time dilation is discussed via the possibility of practical space travel. And such enthusiasm in his dialog: "the universe will grow ever more exciting", he says, and looking at the developments now taking place in today's science, he is indeed correct.

   Chapter 4 gives a fascinating overview of what the author calls the boomerang, which illustrates the action of curvature on nearby test masses. This thought experiment involves the motion of a spacecraft through an imaginary tunnel through the Earth. The author analyzes the motion from the standpoint of Newtonian physics and general relativity. Curvature as the "grammar of gravity" is the topic of the next chapter, with illustrations of the paths of ants on spaces of zero, positive, and negative curvature. A very intuitive treatment of parallel transport around a closed path on a curved surface is given. The tides are discussed as a natural manifestation of the gravitational influence of the Moon on Earth.

   Must difficult for a layman to understand is how spacetime acts on masive objects, but the author explains it brilliantly in the next chapter, taught via the concept of "momenergy". This entity is a 4-vector, and the author uses it to show how its creation in a spacetime region can be written as the sum of 8 terms, reflecting the fact that the "boundary" of a four-dimensional block in spacetime consists of eight three-dimensional cubes. That the contents of these cubes sum to zero is the famous "boundary of a boundary is zero", which is discussed in the next chapter. This chapter is one of the best explanations ever given (at this level) of the physics behind spacetime curvature and massive objects. The actual mathematical quantification of curvature is detailed in chapters 8 and 9, using elementary mathematics. The author discusses nicely the famous Scharwzschild geometry.

   Concepts of a more concrete nature are discussed in chapter 10, wherein the author discusses the famous Pound-Rebka experiment and planetary motion. This is followed by a discussion of the elusive gravitational waves in chapter 11. Again with a clever use of illustrations, the author explains the transverse property of gravitational waves, and compares gravitational waves with electromagnetic waves. The role of the quadrupole moment in the creation of gravitational waves is brought out briliantly by the author. He discusses briefly various attempts to detect gravitational waves.

   Black holes are the topic of chapter 12, wherein the famous Penrose process for extracting energy from a black hole is discussed, and the "no-hair" theorem for black holes. A neat symbolic representation of the Bekenstein number of a black hole is given. The role of the Hawking process, connection quantum processes with the physics of black holes is briefly discussed. The author ends the book with a look at the expansion of the universe, the missing mass problem, and another very interesting topic that has gained much attention recently: the concept of gravitomagnetism. This is a "weak-field" prediction of general relativity, and predicts that the rotation of the Earth should influence the motion of orbiting satellites. This topic is currently bringing together ideas such as the quantum Zeno effect, Mach's principle, and the notorious "frame dragging" effect in general relativity. Experiments do measure it are currently in play and in the proposal stage, namely the LAGEOS and LAGEOS II experiments, which measure the gravitomagnetic orbital perturbation, which is known as the Lense-Thirring effect.




3. The interrelation of gravity and spacetime is a formidable subject to describe; the author does so with excellence. The diagrams and charts reinforce the understanding.

   Unfortunately when a key subject left me rather clueless, (Boundary of a Boundary) I spent quite a few frustrated hours being uncertain on whether or not to continue reading without the support of the material on those pages. As it turned out, the subject became clearer once I read on and returned again. I never did grasp it as completely as the rest of the book.

   The book contains the most enlightening description of transverse wave propagation I've ever seen. It also helps solidify one's understanding of interval and relativity.

   Not a book to be read overnight.




4. This is a beautiful, poetic, and generous book. I found that after reading and mulling over each section, I could eventually visualize how space was behaving under the influence of mass, and could also see why one needed to choose one's point of view carefully to understand the physics.

   The book is intended as an introduction to general relativity, without much tensor formalism, but it does not neglect the geometrical underpinnings. It presents a very nice way to get at the physics, with creative and light-hearted diagrams.

   I'm not so sure that Wheeler's own poems, which introduce many of the chapters, are a great success, but I admire and salute him for including them. Even his poetry helps to open additional doors to understanding general relativity.

   A book that is truly beautiful.

No comments about Einstein's Space-Time: An Introduction to Special and General Relativity.

1 comments about The Einstein Scrapbook.

1. I picked up "The Einstein Scrapbook" by Ze'Ev Rosenkranz because I was curious about Albert Einstein the person, not Dr. Einstein the scientist. I found what I was looking for.

   With everything from early photos and report cards (much better grades than what I heard) to copies of letters he exchanged with children, I found this to be an illuminating and sometimes even humorous outline of Mr. Einstein's life.

   Presented here is a chronology of significant and lesser known events, It is not a biography, per se, but has in it enough to provide me, a casual and intrigued reader, all I want to know. Whether it is his time at CalTech or his 1938 "Colliers" article, "Why Do They Hate the Jews?" we see a candid look at one of the academic stars and great personalities of the Twentieth Century.

   I fully recommend "The Einstein Scrapbook" by Ze'Ev Rosenkranz.

   Anthony Trendl

5 comments about Faster Than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation.

1. I'm currently reading this book. I'm am in no way a physicist nor a cosmologist, but am simply an individual who enjoys reading books and papers on such topics.
   
   So far, in this book, I've read time and time again that the speed of light is the "speed limit" of the universe. I've also read a number of reviews here by people who think they know what they are talking about echoing the same principle.
   
   I find this curious because according to Paul Davies, it's the speed of light "barrier". Not "limit". Nothing can cross the barrier. Meaning that which is traveling faster than the speed of light cannot go slower and vice versa (Cosmic Jackpot - Paul Davies). I'm wondering why all you "know-it-alls" don't know this? I'm wondering why Joao Magueijo hasn't yet pointed this out in the beginning of his book? Is Paul Davies wrong here? Am I misunderstanding him?
   
   Why is everybody here so critical of a man sharing his frustrations with scientific academia while presenting his theory. I agree, it's just begging to be picked on, but so what? Is the science sound? Let's hear him out. Let's work together. And to comment on a few people here who say they've "thought of it" before. Shut up. Who hasn't? I've thought up all sorts of crap, but it's all about providing a testable model to back it up. Not some verbal logistical rhetoric.
   
   A theory guides, a test decides. But the fact remains, we are using the universe to test the universe...our tests are even relative! It should be no surprise to wonder that what we perceive as a constant has variability...especially when considering the physics of trillionths of second old universe...terms as matter and energy could hold little to no meaning in such a context. We just don't know, I don't care how much math you are armed with.
   
   So far, I'm enjoying the book.



2. By Peter A. Stone - California, USA
   Great book! Reads like a criminal novel. It is very educational. Magueijo is very open-minded and direct. There is a lot of information you can not find anywhere else. You can learn a lot about modern physics and cosmology and how the scientific "clergy" (establishment) works. His theory may not be all correct (he admits) but nevertheless the book is revolutionary. One thing that is right for sure in this book is the suggestion that Einstein is wrong. In this meaning it reminds me only of the book: "Space, time and matter and the falsity of Einstein's theory of relativity" by Kamen George Kamenov. The most I like about the book is the honesty and the briliant mind of the author.Space, Time and Matter, and the Falsity of Einstein's Theory of Relativity



3. Five years after its publication, this book is now available at the cost of one cent plus postage. Although I have given up reading it toward its end, it is easy for me to delineate its great value to me who am a curious dilettante in all things and a fascinated non-expert in the world of 20th century physics.
   
   I am an academic in a humanistic field, or was before retiring. It is delicious to see how the politics of academia vary little across national boundaries and discisplines. Get on a bandwagon and into the power structure or be branded a maverick, a ne'er do well, a crackpot and worse. And unless your journal of choice truly exercises its promise to treat your submission anonymously, expect the worst.
   
   I have read many explanations of the special theory of relativity, but never has the impossibility of simultaneity been brought home better than in Magueijo's amusing explication through "Einstein's dream" about his herd of cows. Likewise with general relativity, cosmological constant, and the contributions of Alexander Friedmann whose English biography is still waiting to be written.
   
   Finally, the discussion of cosmic inflation is priceless, how Guth arrived at it, how it works and why it solves some, but not all the problems of the big bang. I have wrestled with this one for years and it is finally clarified.
   
   Details about VSL are not as crystalline as I would like. I learned more about it from a Wikepedia article.
   
   This is an intensely personal account told by a passionate Latino; it is full of passion--antipathy, scorn, gemutlichkeit, and bitter humor, and the language to go with it. Incidentally the son of Portugal's English is impeccable, flowing and enviable.
   
   The one big difficulty with the book is that we dont know how the relationship between the author and his girlfriend Kim--whom he introduces with a pinup picture--turns out.



4. This book is more of a rant than anything else. Basically a young hot-shot physicist has come up with a theory that would shake contemporary physics like a gorilla on a banana tree. The author presents his case as sort of an aside, while calling attention to himself seems to be the upshot of the entire book. Some interesting ideas, decently written, but not at all objective. Maybe next time.



5. This is a very fascinating story and the best book I have ever read. I am still not old enough to have studied all the subject presented in the book in the language of Mathematics, but the presentation was fantastic and I understood every bit of the book and I can now talk for hours about Cosmology with my friends who haven't a clue about this. In one sentense, this is the best book I have read and it would be neary impossible for other books to replace this book's position in my list of favorite books.

5 comments about Understanding Relativity: A Simplified Approach to Einstein's Theories.

1. (from publisher's ad in Science, 10 May 1996): An extraordinarily well-written, well-researched, and carefully thought outpiece of work....The discussions of the paradoxes of relativity and of cosmology are the best discussions of these topicsat the elementary level that I have ever seen. [- Roger A. Freedman, UC Santa Barbara] {I don't why the publisher didn't submit this itself! -CCW}



2. I read many books about the Twin Paradox and this one clearly explains the trip in detail, including the clock reading when the brother is leaving, turn-around and back from the journey. To me, relativity is truely amazing and this book can describe the true "meaning" of it. Highly recommended.



3. Not only does this excellent text clearly explain Einstein's theories by offering a less numeri-centric study but it is by no means a watered down study either. The challenge of relativity is left to the ideas and not the equations--though the author does not shy away from explaining the mathematics of the theory with equations and diagrams. The book is also logically organized to facilitate understanding of the sequence of phenomena and research that guided Einstein. If all physics texts were like this one, there would be far more scientists around.



4. Yes, there are better books on special relativity. And there are a few places where I'd have explained things a little differently. But I like this book. It is thorough and clear. It doesn't simply tell the reader to work it out for herself or himself, but patiently covers one topic after another in detail. Plenty of, um, time is spent on synchronization of clocks and half-lives of moving muons. The properties of moving meter sticks are discussed at, um, length.
   
   Most relativity books leave it as an exercise for the reader why a signal that could travel just a tiny bit faster than the speed of light would go backwards in time. Not this book, which uses space-time diagrams to explain this very well.
   
   The book goes on to make good use of Loedel diagrams, and uses them to help discuss some relativity "paradoxes." Once again, while other relativity books often leave the solutions to these paradoxes as exercises for the reader, Sartori spends some 35 pages addressing many of them outright.
   
   There are a couple of chapters at the end on General Relativity and Cosmology. While they do not get into much of the formalism of these subjects, I think they are a valuable introduction for those who may be curious about them.
   
   This book sure makes learning special relativity less of a chore. If you are a student who doesn't mind being spoon-fed this material, you should try it.



5. Understanding Relativity by Leo Sartori seeks to provide an introduction to Einstein's theory of special relativity to a non-specialist audience. The author discusses pre-Einstein views of relativity, the development of special relativity and some of its associated implications. The issues of general relativity and cosmology are also briefly touched upon. I offer the following comments to potential buyers:
   
   1. Finding the right amount of math for a subject such as this is always a challenge. Not enough and the discussion can be too superficial; too much and you can lose the lay reader. Though sometimes useful, I generally found the author's repetitive use of simplified proofs distracting (they could have been reduced or added as a appendix).
   
   2. Discussion of time dilation and some of its associated ramifications such as the Twins Paradox was weak.
   
   3. Diagrams can be helpful in conveying special relativity. The author's diagrams were medicore.
   
   Overall, not a terrible book. It warrants only 2 stars because it is not good value for money. Better material regarding this and related topics can be found on the Internet for free (just google special relativity).

4 comments about Einstein's Universe: Gravity at Work and Play.

1. I've read several physics books as a hobby. This book is by far the best I've ever read. Not only does the author write in a simple, captivating and well-ordered manner, but the content he crams in there is beyond any other introductory to intermediate physics book. Fascinating.



2. This book is amazing. It trully captivated me and made me more interested in physics and universe. Its both easy to read and educational. Fantastic combo!



3. "Einstein's universe ......" is a wonderful explanation of the current theory of gravity and a very enjoyable read.
   If you would like to learn the basic concepts behind general relativity, then there is no better place to start



4. An Old Man's Toy
   
   I just read the book: " Einstein's Universe" which is the retitle of "An Old Man's Toy". Both titles are available at Amazon.com. I am taking the trouble to write a brief account of why I find this book to be a masterpiece. I've been reading books on Physics as a hobby. My background is that I have a Masters Degree in Math.
   I've read about ten maybe it is more like 20 books trying to understand Einsteins Equivalence Principle. This principle as he grasped it was according to Einsteins the "happiest thought of his life". I read such statements as Acceleration and Gravity produce the same effect and therefore are equivalent. Again such as the inertaial acceleration in F = ma and gravitational acceleration in F=G m M/ r^2 which is GM/r^2 =g produces inertial acceleration = gravitational acceleration and so they cancel being in different directions up and down so to speak. There were others. The problem is trying to get a picure of the process. Since Newtons force was pushed back for curved space it became a little confusing. After reading Dr Zee's book I had my picture. The key to what I'm writing is picture. I asked him a question by email to which I had already decided on the answer and what he gave me is exactly the picture I had formed from reading his book. It is really good. I purchased his other books immediately: "Fearful Symmetry" and "The Unity of Forces". Both available at Amazon.com.

No comments about Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement.