Physics: Concepts and Connections

by Art Hobson

Book Overview

Key Benefit: Written for the non-science major, this book emphasizes modern physics and the scientific process--and engages readers by drawing connections between physics and everyday experience.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0130953814
• ISBN13: 9780130953810
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 536 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.1" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

A highly readable overview of physics

Art Hobson's user-friendly book provides a panoptic overview of physics. The book focuses on describing some of the key points of physics in conceptual terms, without presuming any formal mathematical training on the reader's part. Hobson's book begins with the emergence of modern science and the first of the major post-Renaissance revolutions of Western thought - namely, the Copernican revolution. One of the things that Hobson shows is that the proper way of thinking about scientific knowledge is in terms of models that are more or less correct and not in terms of absolute truths. In this respect he shows how the Copernican model was an improvement on Ptolemy's model and how it more accurately predicted heavenly motions. Ptolemy's theory, in turn, was an improvement on the previously accepted multiple spheres theory and subsequently, the Copernican theory was superseded by Kepler's elliptical planetary orbits. A scientific theory therefore is judged in terms of how well it fits certain facts and not in terms of absolute truth or falsity. As Hobson is quick to warn, this does not mean that science is guess-work or an approach to gaining knowledge that is no more valid than other approaches. The scientific method remains the best known method of gaining knowledge, with its mixture of empiricism and rationalism. Another prefatory chapter follows in which the atomic nature of matter is expounded and from there Hobson goes on to focus on classical, Newtonian physics. He discusses Newton's famous laws of motion and gravity and illustrates the way in which Newtonian mechanics came to replace the deeply flawed tenets of Aristotelian physics. Newton's laws unified motions on Earth with the motions of the heavenly bodies and were influential in shaping a particular view of the Universe that still dominates popular culture. From here Hobson begins the third part of the book which traces the transition from the classical to the new physics. These chapters focus on thermodynamics, light and electromagnetism. These chapters serve to introduce the fourth and most interesting part of the book with a special focus on the post-Newtonian universe. The content of the next several chapters is based on the special and general theories of relativity and quantum physics. Hobson is able to distill many of the counter-intuitive concepts of relativity and quantum theories in ways that make them intelligible to the general reader. He is able to show, for example, how Einstein's special theory of relativity actually has a very simple and elegant structure and is derived from just two fundamental axioms (the constancy of light speed and the constancy of the laws of physics within an inertial frame of reference). Once the reader grasps certain basic axioms the rest of the theory, no matter how seemingly odd or impossible, seems to logically follow. Similarly, the chapters on quantum physics make for extremely interesting reading as the reader is gradually introduced to t

Engagingly written intro to the basic ideas of physics for non-majors

I think this is a terrific book for its target audience. This is not a book on physics for science majors or people who are already comfortable in handling science with mathematics. However, given the absolutely awful state of mathematical understanding outside of science departments, there is a need to help non-majors develop some intuitions about how the universe is put together and how it actually works. I mean, just look at most of the commercials for screwy products making pseudo health and diet claims and you know that no matter how much we do, we need to do more to educate everyone about actual science and math. So, this book is well written and I think it is organized well. It has eighteen chapters organized into five parts. The author starts framing the universe in its vast size and the stars as well as exposing the principles of atoms and their constituent parts. He then takes the students through Newton, Galileo, and the mechanical Universe in part 2. Part 3 discusses principles of energy, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, radiation and global climate change (FYI-this book takes the notion that it is known that humans are causing global warming). Part 4 takes the student into the Theory of Relativity, New Cosmology, what is being done to search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, and the quantum Universe. In part 5 we go inside the atom, fusion and fission, the problem with finding energy, and quantum fields. And the epilogue sums things up. I like the book and am using it with my teenage son who is very interested in science. It is a way to get him ready for his high school studies by orienting him to key ideas and the basic principles of what used to be called natural philosophy. However, this is NOT a suitable physics text for science majors wanting to get prepared for handling actual science courses. It is a basic text for people who would like to become familiar with the basic notions of science and for young people preparing for their first science courses in high school.

Exceptionally well-written

This is exceptionally well-written and easy to understand, with lots of features (quotes, cartoons, drawings, "how-do-we-knows", etc.) to hold the reader's interest. It is also up-to-date and covers a wide range of subjects, such as global warming. It is very far from the "dry" physics texts I remember. Of particular note is the introduction of a "quantized matter field" that replaces the notion of particles.

Physics for NON-Pysics type person

If you ever thought you were interested in physics or the way things work in the world around you, but thought you weren't smart enough, well - this is a text that shows that you are smart enough. It talks in human terms & doesn't talk down to you either. It shows that formulas are just shorthand for terms like 'ASAP'='As Soon As Possible' & so you use the shorthand to take less time and/or space. It contains plenty of 'WOW' factors also, which I really like. After each chapter, it has experiments to try & quizzes with answers to every other one for self-evaluation comprehension.

Great book that makes physics understandable.

Art Hobson owns the gift of great teachers and authors. He understands, communicates, and visualizes. His writing is smoth, devoid of the wrinkles and creases that can jar assimilation. His book covers the precipitous changes in the world of physics as it climbed three great cliffs, from Aristotle, through Newton, then the Einstein revolution. Along the way he touches on the effects of these changes on our civilization. The difficult subject is brought to the level of understanding by anyone willing to devote some effort to reading, not necessarily studying the book. It's "physics made easier" by clever diagrams that portray concepts that words would not convey. The left margins of each page are adorned by quips and often wry statements of the great physicists and philosophers. The book is a treat, a great teacher, a perfect gift for anyone interested in the "who, what, where, how" of things and us. The "why" is left to the imagination of each reader.