Forces in Physics: A Historical Perspective (Greenwood Guides to Great Ideas in Science)

Force is one of the most elementary concepts that must be understood in order to understand modern science; it is discussed extensively in textbooks at all levels and is a requirement in most science guidelines. It is also one of the most challenging - how could one idea be involved in such disparate physical phenomena as gravity and radioactivity? Forces in Physics helps the science student by explaining how these ideas originally were developed and provides context to the stunning conclusions that scientists over the centuries have arrived at. It covers the history of all of the four traditional fundamental forces - gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force - and shows how these forces have, over the years, allowed physicists to better understand the nature of the physical world. Forces in Physics: A Historical Perspective traces the evolution of the concept from the earliest days of the Ancient Greeks to the contemporary attempt to form a GUT (Grand Unified Theory): Aristotle and others in Ancient Greece who developed ideas about physical laws and the introduction of forces into nature; Newton and others in the Scientific Revolution who discovered that forces like gravity applied throughout the universe; the 19th century examinations of thermodynamics and the forces of the very small; and 20th century developments—relativity, quantum mechanics, and more advanced physics—that revolutionized the way we understand force. The volume includes a glossary of terms, a timeline of important events, and a bibliography of resources useful for further research.

Force is one of the most elementary concepts that must be understood in order to understand modern science; it is discussed extensively in textbooks at all levels and is a requirement in most science guidelines. It is also one of the most challenging - how could one idea be involved in such disparate physical phenomena as gravity and radioactivity? Forces in Physics helps the science student by explaining how these ideas originally were developed and provides context to the stunning conclusions that scientists over the centuries have arrived at. It covers the history of all of the four traditional fundamental forces - gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force - and shows how these forces have, over the years, allowed physicists to better understand the nature of the physical world.

Forces in Physics: A Historical Perspective traces the evolution of the concept from the earliest days of the Ancient Greeks to the contemporary attempt to form a GUT (Grand Unified Theory): Aristotle and others in Ancient Greece who developed ideas about physical laws and the introduction of forces into nature; Newton and others in the Scientific Revolution who discovered that forces like gravity applied throughout the universe; the 19th century examinations of thermodynamics and the forces of the very small; and 20th century developments—relativity, quantum mechanics, and more advanced physics—that revolutionized the way we understand force. The volume includes a glossary of terms, a timeline of important events, and a bibliography of resources useful for further research.

Forces in physics : a historical perspective......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 1. Force in the Ancient and Classical World......Page 16 2. Medieval Ideas of Force......Page 36 3. The New Physics......Page 54 4. From the Heavens to the Earth......Page 80 5. Forces and Fields......Page 114 6. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics......Page 132 7. Fields as Everything......Page 152 8. The Relativity of Motion......Page 174 9. Quantum Mechanics......Page 194 Appendix: Some Mathematical Ideas......Page 218 Timeline......Page 230 Bibliography......Page 236 Index......Page 244 Traces the development of scientific concepts since ancient times. This series helps students understand not only what scientists know, but how they came to know it. It supports the recommendations of national science education standards on the history and nature of science; provides print and electronic resources for research; and more. Examines the history of physics, and discusses the advancement of ideas from antiquity through the twentieth century, and covers Medieval ideas of force, Isaac Newton, thermodynamics, relativity of motion, Quantum mechanics, and other related topics. Includes a time line Force in the ancient and classical world -- Medieval ideas of force -- The new physics -- Newton -- Forces and fields -- Thermodynamics -- Fields as everything -- The relativity of motion -- Quantum mechanics -- Some mathematical ideas -- Timeline