Energy and the UnexpectedOnly in the early 19th century did scientists recognize that energy is a distinct physical quantity. Since then, however, it has played a pivotal role in the advancement and the understanding of science and in technology. From the steam engine to the equation e=mc2 and beyond, the concept ofenergy offers an essential key to our understanding of the Universe.In this entertaining and highly readable book, Professor Laidler explains the concept of energy and its characteristics as they were discovered over the past two centuries. He describes how energy transformations, as interpreted by the second law of thermodynamics, are not absolute but can only beunderstood in terms of chance and probability. After looking at energy on a small scale and then at the scale of the Universe itself, he shows how these topics are linked with chaos theory according to which the unexpected is inevitable.Written for the general reader with an interest in science, the development and interrelationship of the concepts of energy, chance and chaos are set in their historical context, and illuminated by accounts of the key scientists involved and of some of their investigations. |
Contents
Steam engines and artillery | 1 |
Red blood and electric motors | 15 |
Steam engines revisited | 28 |
The second law of thermodynamics | 34 |
Maxwells demon | 44 |
Chance and the distribution of energy | 59 |
Packets of energy | 72 |
Energy equals me² | 86 |
Energy and the universe | 101 |
the science of the unexpected | 124 |
| 141 | |
| 143 | |
Common terms and phrases
amount of energy astronomer atoms ball became behaviour Big Bang Boltzmann calculated called Carnot cent century chaos theory chapter chemical Clausius Clausius's conclusion considered converted deuterium Earth Eddington efficiency Einstein electric electron elements emitted entropy change equation example experimental experiments explain force frequency gases gravitational heat helium higher temperature hydrogen idea important informational entropy involved isotope Joule Kelvin kinetic theory later law of thermodynamics logarithm mass mathematical matter Maxwell Maxwell's Maxwell's demon Mayer million molecular molecules motion moving neutrinos neutrons Nobel Prize nuclear processes nuclear reactions nucleus obtained occur orbit oscillates oxygen paper particles particularly photoelectric effect physicist physics Planck predictions pressure principle probability professor protons quantization quantum mechanics quantum theory radiation radioactive result Royal Society Rumford scientific scientists second law shuffling speed of light star steam engine suggested Tait theorem theory of relativity University uranium vibration Watt wave zero