e-books in History of Physics category
Mathematics and Physical Science in Classical Antiquityby J. L. Heiberg - Oxford University Press , 1922
The volume gives a general survey of the science of Classical Antiquity, laying however special stress on the mathematical and physical aspects. Topics: Ionian Natural Philosophy; Pythagoreans; Hippocrates; Mathematics in the Fifth Century; Plato ...
(7811 views)
Memories of a Theoretical Physicistby Joseph Polchinski - arXiv.org , 2017
The target audience is theoretical physicists, especially young ones, who may enjoy comparing my struggles with their own. It has too much physics for a nontechnical reader, and too little for a physicist, but there will be different things for each.
(5673 views)
The Renaissance of Science: The Story of the Atom, Mathematics, Astronomy and Physicsby Albert Martini - Project Gutenberg , 2016
This book presents the scientific developments in mathematics, physics and astronomy from the Classic Greek Era to the present time. It discusses the 2,000-year history in the development of the great ideas that revolutionized our scientific world.
(7241 views)
Remodeling Reality: Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, and the Modern Worldviewby Mike Corwin - Bookboon , 2015
The book is focused on the conceptual aspects of modern physics and the personalities of physicists responsible for introducing these revolutionary ideas. It can be used as the primary text for a one-semester course aimed at Liberal Arts students.
(6603 views)
Makers of Electricityby Brother Potamian, James Joseph Walsh - Fordham University Press , 1909
This volume represents an effort in the direction of the biographical history of electricity. The controlling idea in its preparation was to provide brief yet reasonably complete sketches of the lives of the great pioneer workers in electricity.
(8388 views)
Galileo and Einsteinby Michael Fowler - UVa , 2009
This course traces the historical development of some key scientific ideas: space, time, motion, mass and force. Philosophers, and more practical people, have struggled with these concepts since the earliest recorded times ...
(9481 views)
Geometry and Astronomy: Pre-Einstein Speculations of Non-Euclidean Spaceby Helge Kragh - arXiv , 2012
The recognition that physical space is curved is dramatically shown by the 1919 solar eclipse measurements. However, the mathematical possibility of non-Euclidean geometries was recognized by Gauss more than a century earlier ...
(8815 views)
Lord Kelvinby Andrew Gray - J. M. Dent & Co. , 1908
The aim of the volume is to give an account of Lord Kelvin's life of scientific activity, and to explain to the student, and to the general reader who takes an interest in physical science and its applications, the nature of his discoveries.
(11673 views)
Eight Lectures on Theoretical Physicsby Max Planck - Columbia University Press , 1915
Landmark lectures (1909) by discoverer of quantum theory present revolutionary developments occasioned by application of quantum hypothesis to blackbody radiation. Also, how statistical mechanics transformed understanding of chemical physics.
(9916 views)
String Theory: a perspective over the last 25 yearsby Sunil Mukhi - arXiv , 2011
This text provides some historical background and then reviews developments in string theory over the last twenty-five years. Both perturbative and non-perturbative approaches are surveyed and their impact on how we view quantum gravity is analysed.
(12413 views)
Preludes to Dark Energy: Zero-point energy and vacuum speculationsby Helge Kragh - arXiv , 2011
Although dark energy is a modern concept, some elements in it can be traced back to the early part of the twentieth century. This paper examines the origin of the idea of zero-point energy and in particular how it appeared in a cosmological context.
(8918 views)
Elements of Early Modern Physicsby J. L. Heilbron - University of California Press , 1982
Part 1 is a very general and discursive survey of 17th century physics; Part 2 is a valuable comparison of the various institutional settings in which 17th and 18th century scientists worked; Part 3 is a history of electricity up to about 1800.
(12971 views)
Quantum Theory at the Crossroadsby Guido Bacciagaluppi, Antony Valentini - Cambridge University Press , 2009
1927 Solvay conference reconsidered. Contrary to folklore, the interpretation question was not settled at this conference and no consensus was reached; instead, a range of sharply conflicting views were presented and extensively discussed.
(12848 views)
Lawrence and His Laboratory: A History of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratoryby J. L. Heilbron, Robert W. Seidel - University of California Press , 1989
The Radiation Laboratory in Berkeley, California, was the birthplace of particle accelerators, radioisotopes, and modern big science. This volume is a saga of physics and finance in the Great Depression, when a new kind of science was born.
(13627 views)
From c-Numbers to q-Numbersby Olivier Darrigol - University of California Press , 1993
A mathematically precise history of quantum mechanics. This history is a maze of conceptual problems, through which Olivier Darrigol provides a lucid and learned guide, tracking the role of formal analogies between classical and quantum theory.
(12507 views)
Lawrence and the Cyclotronby Peter Westwick - American Institute of Physics , 2009
As he built machines to study subatomic particles, Ernest Lawrence created modern Big Science. After helping make the first atomic bombs, he became a leader of Cold War science. His biography is illustrated with pictures, explanations and a song.
(12966 views)
Albert Einstein: Image and Impact- American Institute of Physics , 2004
His theories and philosophy rose above a turbulent life. The story, checked for accuracy by leading historians, will interest all readers. Enhanced with striking pictures, voice clips, and essays, this is a one-stop source for Einstein information.
(23276 views)