Conjuring the universe: the origins of the laws of nature - 1. edición

The marvellous complexity of the Universe emerges from several deep laws and a handful of fundamental constants that fix its shape, scale, and destiny. There is a deep structure to the world which at the same time is simple, elegant, and beautiful. Where did these laws and these constants come from? And why are the laws so fruitful when written in the language of mathematics? Peter Atkins considers the minimum effort needed to equip the Universe with its laws and its constants. He explores the origin of the conservation of energy, of electromagnetism, of classical and quantum mechanics, and of thermodynamics, showing how all these laws spring from deep symmetries. The revolutionary result is a short but immensely rich weaving together of the fundamental ideas of physics. With his characteristic wit, erudition, and economy, Atkins sketches out how the laws of Nature can spring from very little. Or arguably from nothing at all. The Marvelous Complexity Of The Universe Emerges From Several Deep Laws And A Handful Of Fundamental Constants That Fix Its Shape, Scale, And Destiny. There Is A Deep Structure To The World Which At The Same Time Is Simple, Elegant, And Beautiful. Where Did These Laws And These Constants Come From? And Why Are The Laws So Fruitful When Written In The Language Of Mathematics? Peter Atkins Considers The Minimum Effort Needed To Equip The Universe With Its Laws And Its Constants. He Explores The Origin Of The Conservation Of Energy, Of Electromagnetism, Of Classical And Quantum Mechanics, And Of Thermodynamics, Showing How All These Laws Spring From Deep Symmetries. The Revolutionary Result Is A Short But Immensely Rich Weaving Together Of The Fundamental Ideas Of Physics. With His Characteristic Wit, Erudition, And Economy, Atkins Sketches Out How The Laws Of Nature Can Spring From Very Little. Or Arguably From Nothing At All. Back To Eternity : The Nature Of Laws -- Much Ado About Nothing : How Laws Might Emerge From Nothing -- Anarchy Rules : How Some Laws Emerge From No Laws -- The Heat Of The Moment : Laws Relating To Temperature -- Beyond Anarchy : Why Anything Happens -- The Creative Power Of Ignorance : How Matter Responds To Change -- The Charge Of The Light Brigade : The Laws Of Electricity And Magnetism -- Measure For Measure : The Origin Of The Fundamental Constants -- The Cry From The Depths : Why Mathematics Works. Peter Atkins. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 169-181) And Index. Cover 1 Conjuring the Universe 4 Copyright 5 Preface 6 Contents 8 Epigraph 10 Chapter 1: Back to Eternity: The nature of laws 12 Chapter 2: Much Ado about Nothing: How laws might emerge from nothing 28 Chapter 3: Anarchy Rules: How some laws emerge fron no laws 50 Chapter: 4 The Heat of the Moment: Laws relating to temperature 70 Chapter 5: Beyond Anarchy: Why anything happens 90 Chapter 6: The Creative Power of Ignorance: How matter responds to change 110 Chapter 7: The Charge of the Light Brigade: The laws of electricity and magnetism 126 Chapter 8 Measure for Measure: The origin of the fundamental constants 144 Chapter 9: The Cry from the Depths: Why mathematics works 166 Notes 180 Chapter 1 180 Chapter 2 180 Chapter 3 182 Chapter 4 183 Chapter 5 184 Chapter 6 185 Chapter 7 186 Chapter 8 189 Chapter 9 191 Index 194 The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing 200 Elegance in Science: The Beauty of Simplicity 201 What is Chemistry? 202 What is Life?: How Chemistry Biology 203 Reactions: The Private Life of Atoms 204 Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey through Parallel Universe, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension 205 On Being: A scientist's exploration of the great questions of existence 206 Origins: The Scientific Story of Creation 207 The marvellous complexity of the Universe emerges from several deep laws and a handful of fundamental constants that fix its shape, scale, and destiny. There is a deep structure to the world which at the same time is simple, elegant, and beautiful. Where did these laws and these constants come from? And why are the laws so fruitful when written in the language of mathematics?00Peter Atkins considers the minimum effort needed to equip the Universe with its laws and its constants. He explores the origin of the conservation of energy, of electromagnetism, of classical and quantum mechanics, and of thermodynamics, showing how all these laws spring from deep symmetries. The revolutionary result is a short but immensely rich weaving together of the fundamental ideas of physics. With his characteristic wit, erudition, and economy, Atkins sketches out how the laws of Nature can spring from very little. Or arguably from nothing at all The marvellous complexity of the Universe emerges from several deep laws and a handful of fundamental constants that fix its shape, scale, and destiny. Peter Atkins identifies the minimum decisions that would be needed for the Universe to behave as it does, arguing that the laws of Nature can spring from very little. Or perhaps from nothing at all.