Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil Degrasse TysonAstrophysics for People in a Hurry will reveal just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.
Call Number: QB461 .T97 2017
A Quantum Life by Hakeem Oluseyi; Joshua HorwitzIn this inspiring coming-of-age memoir, a world-renowned astrophysicist emerges from an impoverished childhood and crime-filled adolescence to ascend through the top ranks of research physics. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS * "You'll encounter one extraordinary turn of events after another, as the extraordinary chess player, puzzle solver, and occasional grifter works his way from grinding poverty and deep despair to worldwide acclaim as a physicist."--Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society Navigating poverty, violence, and instability, a young James Plummer had two guiding stars--a genius IQ and a love of science. But a bookish nerd is a soft target, and James faced years of bullying and abuse. As he struggled to survive his childhood in some of the country's toughest urban neighborhoods in New Orleans, Houston, and LA, and later in the equally poor backwoods of Mississippi, he adopted the persona of "gangsta nerd"--dealing weed in juke joints while winning state science fairs with computer programs that model Einstein's theory of relativity. Once admitted to the elite physics PhD program at Stanford University, James found himself pulled between the promise of a bright future and a dangerous crack cocaine habit he developed in college. With the encouragement of his mentor and the sole Black professor in the physics department, James confronted his personal demons as well as the entrenched racism and classism of the scientific establishment. When he finally seized his dream of a life in astrophysics, he adopted a new name, Hakeem Muata Oluseyi, to honor his African ancestors. Alternately heartbreaking and hopeful, A Quantum Life narrates one man's remarkable quest across an ever-expanding universe filled with entanglement and choice.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen HawkingTold in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter, of the big bang and a bigger God. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.
Call Number: QB981 .H377 199
Six Not-So-Easy Pieces by Richard P. Feynman; Robert B. Leighton; Matthew SandsLearn about Einstein's theory of relativity from a physics Nobel laureate and "one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century" (New York Review of Books) in six memorable lessons It was Richard Feynman's outrageous and scintillating method of teaching that earned him legendary status among students and professors of physics. From 1961 to 1963, Feynman delivered a series of lectures at the California Institute of Technology that revolutionized the teaching of physics. In Six Not-So-Easy Pieces, taken from these famous Lectures on Physics, Feynman delves into one of the most revolutionary discoveries in twentieth-century physics: Einstein's theory of relativity. The idea that the flow of time is not a constant, that the mass of an object depends on its velocity, and that the speed of light is a constant no matter what the motion of the observer, at first seemed shocking to scientists and laymen alike. But as Feynman shows, these tricky ideas are not merely dry principles of physics, but things of beauty and elegance. No one -- not even Einstein himself -- explained these difficult, anti-intuitive concepts more clearly, or with more verve and gusto, than Feynman. Filled with wonderful examples and clever illustrations, Six Not-So-Easy Pieces is the ideal introduction to the fundamentals of physics by one of the most admired and accessible physicists of all time. "There is no better explanation for the scientifically literate layman." -Washington Post Book World
This fascinating book presents a collection of articles based on conversations and correspondences between the author and complete strangers about physics and math.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo RovelliThis playful, entertaining, and mind-bending introduction to modern physics briskly explains Einstein's general relativity, quantum mechanics, elementary particles, gravity, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, and the role humans play in this weird and wonderful world.
Call Number: QC24.5 .R68313 2016
Existential Physics by Sabine HossenfelderA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "An informed and entertaining guide to what science can and cannot tell us." --The Wall Street Journal "Stimulating . . . encourage[s] readers to push past well-trod assumptions [...] and have fun doing so." --Science Magazine From renowned physicist and creator of the YouTube series "Science without the Gobbledygook," a book that takes a no-nonsense approach to life's biggest questions, and wrestles with what physics really says about the human condition Not only can we not currently explain the origin of the universe, it is questionable we will ever be able to explain it. The notion that there are universes within particles, or that particles are conscious, is ascientific, as is the hypothesis that our universe is a computer simulation. On the other hand, the idea that the universe itself is conscious is difficult to rule out entirely. According to Sabine Hossenfelder, it is not a coincidence that quantum entanglement and vacuum energy have become the go-to explanations of alternative healers, or that people believe their deceased grandmother is still alive because of quantum mechanics. Science and religion have the same roots, and they still tackle some of the same questions: Where do we come from? Where do we go to? How much can we know? The area of science that is closest to answering these questions is physics. Over the last century, physicists have learned a lot about which spiritual ideas are still compatible with the laws of nature. Not always, though, have they stayed on the scientific side of the debate. In this lively, thought-provoking book, Hossenfelder takes on the biggest questions in physics: Does the past still exist? Do particles think? Was the universe made for us? Has physics ruled out free will? Will we ever have a theory of everything? She lays out how far physicists are on the way to answering these questions, where the current limits are, and what questions might well remain unanswerable forever. Her book offers a no-nonsense yet entertaining take on some of the toughest riddles in existence, and will give the reader a solid grasp on what we know--and what we don't know.
Call Number: QC6 .H656 2022
Lost in Math by Sabine HossenfelderWhether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones.
Call Number: QC20.6 .H67 2020
The World According to Physics by Jim Al-KhaliliShining a light on the most profound insights revealed by modern physics, Jim Al-Khalili invites us all to understand what this crucially important science tells us about the universe and the nature of reality itself.
Call Number: QC24.5 .A44 2020
The Physics Book by DK; Jim Al-Khalili (Foreword by)Learn about the Big Bang theory, astrophysics and gravity in The Physics Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Physics in this overview guide to the subject, great for beginners looking to learn and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Physics Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Physics, with: - More than 100 ground-breaking ideas in this field of science - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Physics Book is the perfect introduction to the science, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you'll discover more than 90 of the most important laws and theories in the history of physics and the great minds behind them. If you've ever wondered exactly how physicists formulated and proved groundbreaking abstract concepts, this is the perfect book for you. Your Physics Questions, Simply Explained How do magnets generate electricity? What is antimatter? Is time travel possible? If you thought it was difficult to learn the many laws and concepts of physics, The Physics Book presents key information in a clear layout. Learn about Pythagoras's observations on music, Galileo's experiments with spheres and Isaac Newton's theories of gravity and laws of motion with superb mind maps and step-by-step summaries. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Physics Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.
Call Number: QC24.5 .P593 2020
Physics: an illustrated guide for all ages by Kurt BakerWith large, colorful graphics, including maps, diagrams, and labeled illustrations and clear supporting text, this is a valuable resource for readers of all ages who want to learn science in an easy and engaging way.
Call Number: QC24.5 .B3485 2021
Schaum's Outline of College Physics, Twelfth Edition by Eugene HechtTough Test Questions? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time? Textbook too Pricey? Fortunately, there's Schaum's. This all-in-one-package includes more than 700 fully-solved problems, examples, and practice exercises to sharpen your problem-solving skills. Plus, you will have access to the revised online Schaum's.com website--it's just like having your own virtual tutor! You'll find everything you need to build confidence, skills, and knowledge for the highest score possible. More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's to help them succeed in the classroom and on exams. Schaum's is the key to faster learning and higher grades in every subject. Each Outline presents all the essential course information in an easy-to-follow, topic-by-topic format. Helpful tables and illustrations increase your understanding of the subject at hand. Schaum's Outline of College Physics, 12th Edition features: * Updated content to match the latest curriculum * Over 700 fully-solved problems * Hundreds of practice problems with answers * Clear explanations for all physics concepts * An accessible outline format for quick and easy review * Access to revised Schaums.com website
Physics: a Very Short Introduction by Sidney PerkowitzPhysics, the fundamental science of matter and energy, encompasses all levels of nature from the subatomic to the cosmic, and underlies much of the technology around us. Understanding the physics of our universe is an essential aspect of humanity's quest to understand our environment and our place within it.