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About this book
Science is based not only on observation and experiment, but on theory as well. As Einstein said, "Theory tells us what to measure." And theories are often crystallized into succinct calculations, like those made using Einstein's famous E = mc2. This book looks at fifty such great calculations, exploring how and why they were developed and assessing their impact on the history of science. As the author shows, many significant scientific calculations are quite simple and fairly easy to understand, even for readers will little math background. But their implications can be surprising and profound. For example, what links a famous comet and the cost of an annuity? Why do scientists claim there is "dark matter" in the universe if it can't be observed? How does carbon-based life on Earth depend on a quirk of nuclear physics? The answer to each question is an illuminating calculation. This accessible, engaging book will help you understand these breakthroughs and how they changed our view of life and the world.
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Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access Great Calculations by Colin Pask in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Mathematics & History & Philosophy of Mathematics. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Fifty Questions for the Calculations to Answer
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Ancient Mathematics
- Chapter 3: Steps into Modern Mathematics
- Chapter 4: Our World
- Chapter 5: The Solar System: The First Mathematical Models
- Chapter 6: The Solar System: Into the Modern Era
- Chapter 7: The Universe
- Chapter 8: About Us
- Chapter 9: Light
- Chapter 10: Building Blocks
- Chapter 11: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Chapter 12: Methods and Motion
- Chapter 13: Evaluation
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index of Names
- Index of Subjects and Terms