Gravity from the Ground Up: An Introductory Guide to Gravity and General RelativityThis book invites the reader to understand our Universe, not just marvel at it. From the clock-like motions of the planets to the catastrophic collapse of a star into a black hole, gravity controls the Universe. Gravity is central to modern physics, helping to answer the deepest questions about the nature of time, the origin of the Universe and the unification of the forces of nature. Linking key experiments and observations through careful physical reasoning, the author builds the reader's insight step-by-step from simple but profound facts about gravity on Earth to the frontiers of research. Topics covered include the nature of stars and galaxies, the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, black holes, gravitational waves, inflation and the Big Bang. Suitable for general readers and for undergraduate courses, the treatment uses only high-school level mathematics, supplemented by optional computer programs, to explain the laws of physics governing gravity. |
Contents
gravity takes center stage | 9 |
what goes up doesnt always come down | 19 |
a triumph for Newtonian gravity | 25 |
the real signature of gravity | 39 |
the cosmic rollercoaster | 51 |
keeping planets covered | 65 |
CONTENTS ix | 72 |
keeping the heat on | 85 |
logic and experiment in relativity | 195 |
finding out what is not relative | 211 |
Einstein climbs onto Newtons shoulders | 225 |
fashioning the geometry of gravity | 239 |
laboratories of strong gravity | 261 |
gravitys oneway street | 285 |
gravity speaks | 309 |
bringing the Universe into focus | 331 |
the emptiness of outer space | 103 |
why they are black bodies | 109 |
factories for the Universe | 121 |
the life cycle of the stars | 135 |
tidal forces on a huge scale | 153 |
atoms in the Universe | 163 |
Einstein stands on Galileos shoulders | 179 |
Other editions - View all
Gravity from the Ground Up: An Introductory Guide to Gravity and General ... Bernard Schutz No preview available - 2003 |
Gravity from the Ground Up: An Introductory Guide to Gravity and General ... Bernard Schutz No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
acceleration astronomers atmosphere atoms binary black body black hole brightness calculate called Chapter clock cloud cluster collapse collisions computer program constant coordinate curvature curved density detector direction disk distance Earth effect Einstein electrons emitted Equation equivalence principle experiment experimenter fact factor Figure frequency galaxies geometry given gravitational field gravitational redshift gravitational waves gravitomagnetic happens helium hydrogen inside Investigation Jupiter kinetic energy look luminosity magnitude measure molecules momentum Moon motion moving neutrinos neutron star Newton's Newtonian gravity nuclear reactions nuclei objects observations orbit particles photon physicists physics Planck planets polytropic predictions pressure pulsars quantum theory quasars radiation radius random redshift region relativistic rest-mass rotation simple Solar System space spacecraft spacetime spacetime-interval special relativity spectrum speed of light sphere supernova surface telescope temperature tidal forces tion Universe velocity wavelength white dwarf world line X-ray zero