Let there be light : the story of light from atoms to galaxies

This book is the first of its kind to devote itself at this level to the key role played by light and electromagnetic radiation in the universe. Readers are introduced to philosophical hypotheses such as the economy, symmetry, and universality of natural laws, and are then guided to practical consequences such as the rules of geometrical optics and even Einstein's well-known but mysterious relationship, E = mc2. Most chapters feature a pen picture of the life and character of a relevant scientific figure. These Historical Interludes include, among others, Galileo's conflicts with the Inquisition, Fourier's taunting of the guillotine, Neils Bohr and World War II, and the unique character of Richard Feynman. Going one step beyond the popular level, this easy-to-read book gives an overall view to undergraduate and postgraduate physics students that is often missing when trying to assimilate the technical details of their courses. Through its original treatment of topics and enjoyable style of writing, it will also stimulate keen interest in general readers who are interested in science and have a basic mathematics background as well as teachers looking for basic and accurate background information. Contents: Introducing Light; Geometrical Optics: Reflection; Geometrical Optics; Refraction; Light from Afar -- Astronomy; Light from the Past -- Astrophysics; Introducing Waves; Sound Waves; Light as a Wave; Making Images; There Was Electricity, There Was Magnetism, and Then There Was Light; 'Atoms of Light' -- The Birth of Quantum Theory; The Development of Quantum Mechanics; Atoms of Light Acting as Particles; Atoms of Light Behaving as Waves; Relativity Part 1: How It Began; Relativity Part 2: Verifiable Predictions; Epilogue. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 16 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 14 1: Introducing Light......Page 36 1.1.2 The Middle Ages......Page 37 1.2.1 The visible spectrum......Page 39 1.3.1 The astronomical method......Page 40 1.3.2 Terrestrial measurement......Page 41 1.3.3 The speed of light in context......Page 43 1.4.2 The journey of a photon......Page 44 1.4.3 The eye is like a digital camera......Page 46 1.4.5 Why is the grass green?......Page 48 1.4.6 Seeing in the dark......Page 49 1.4.7 The branches of optics......Page 50 1.5.2 Light as a wave......Page 51 1.5.3 Maxwell’s electromagnetic waves......Page 52 1.5.4 Light as a particle......Page 53 1.5.5 An illustration of duality?......Page 54 1.6.1 Particles have wave properties......Page 55 1.6.2 The Copenhagen interpretation......Page 56 1.6.3 The universal messenger......Page 57 2: Geometrical Optics: Reflection......Page 58 2.1.1 Light takes the quickest route......Page 59 2.1.3 The quickest path via a reflection......Page 60 2.1.4 The law of reflection......Page 61 2.2.1 A plane mirror......Page 62 2.2.2 Reversal from left to right......Page 63 2.2.4 A spherical concave mirror......Page 64 2.2.5 Applications of concave mirrors......Page 67 2.2.6 The ‘death rays’ of Archimedes......Page 68 A historical interlude: Pierre de Fermat (1601–1665)......Page 70 Appendix 2.1 The parabolic mirror......Page 72 3: Geometrical Optics: Refraction......Page 76 3.1.1 The refractive index......Page 77 3.1.2 The lifeguard problem......Page 78 3.1.4 Apparent depth......Page 80 3.1.5 The dilemma faced by light trying to leave glass......Page 82 3.1.6 Practical applications of total internal reflection......Page 83 3.1.7 Freedom of choice when a ray meets a boundary......Page 84 3.1.8 The mystery......Page 85 3.1.9 A practical puzzle — two-way mirrors......Page 86 3.2.1 The function of a lens......Page 87 3.2.2 Fermat’s principle applied to lenses......Page 88 3.3.1 Ray tracing through a thin lens......Page 89 3.3.2 Principal rays (thin lenses)......Page 90 3.3.4 Symmetry......Page 91 3.3.5 Breaking the symmetry......Page 92 3.3.6 An intuitive approach — the task of a lens......Page 93 3.4 Objects and images: diverging lenses......Page 95 3.5.2 Examples — lenses in contact......Page 96 3.5.3 The power of a lens......Page 97 3.6.1 The structure of the eye......Page 98 3.6.2 Common eye defects......Page 100 3.7.1 Distant objects......Page 102 3.7.2 Nearer but not clearer......Page 103 3.7.3 Angular magnification......Page 105 3.8.1 Compound microscopes......Page 107 3.8.2 Telescopes......Page 109 3.9 A final note on Fermat’s principle......Page 110 Appendix 3.1 The lifeguard problem......Page 111 Appendix 3.2 The lens equation......Page 113 Appendix 3.3 Calculating the power of spectacles......Page 114 4: Light from Afar — Astronomy......Page 116 4.1.2 Philosophical reasons why the earth should be round......Page 117 4.1.3 Experimental evidence that the earth is round......Page 118 4.2.1 The phases of the moon......Page 119 4.2.2 A lunar eclipse......Page 120 4.2.3 A solar eclipse......Page 122 4.3.1 Relative sizes of the sun and the moon......Page 124 4.3.3 Shrinking shadows......Page 125 4.3.4 The distance to the moon......Page 127 4.3.5 The distance to the sun......Page 128 4.3.6 A practical problem......Page 129 4.3.8 Astronomical distances......Page 131 4.4.2 Ptolemy’s geocentric model......Page 132 4.5.1 Frames of reference......Page 134 4.5.2 Copernicus and the heliocentric model......Page 135 4.5.3 Where did the epicycles come from?......Page 138 4.6 After Copernicus......Page 139 4.7 The solar system in perspective......Page 145 A historical interlude: Galileo Galilei (1564–1642)......Page 147 Appendix 4.1 Mathematics of the ellipse......Page 153 5.1 The birth of astrophysics......Page 156 5.1.1 Isaac Newton and gravitation......Page 157 5.1.2 Falling without getting nearer......Page 158 5.1.4 Newton’s law of gravitation......Page 160 5.1.5 Testing the law......Page 161 5.1.7 The period of the moon’s orbit......Page 164 5.2.1 The moon and the falling apple......Page 165 5.2.2 Predicting the existence of new planets......Page 166 5.3.1 Planets of other suns......Page 168 5.3.2 Other galaxies......Page 171 5.4.1 The steady state cosmological model......Page 173 5.4.2 The ‘big bang’ theory......Page 174 5.4.3 A blast from the past......Page 175 5.5.1 White dwarfs......Page 177 5.5.2 Supernovae......Page 178 5.5.3 Pulsars......Page 180 5.5.4 Black holes......Page 183 5.5.5 Escape velocities......Page 184 5.5.6 How to ‘see’ the invisible......Page 185 5.5.7 A strange event in the Milky Way......Page 186 A historical interlude: Isaac Newton (1642–1727)......Page 187 Appendix 5.1 Kepler’s third law, derived from Newton’s law of universal gravitation......Page 193 Appendix 5.2 Escape velocity......Page 194 6.1 Waves — the basic means of communication......Page 196 6.1.1 Mechanical waves in a medium......Page 198 6.1.2 Transverse waves......Page 199 6.1.3 Longitudinal waves......Page 200 6.2.2 From the sine of an angle to the picture of a wave......Page 203 6.2.3 An expression for a sine wave in motion......Page 205 6.2.4 Wave parameters......Page 206 6.3.1 The superposition principle......Page 207 6.4.2 Path difference and phase difference......Page 208 6.4.3 When two waves travelling in opposite directions meet......Page 209 6.4.4 A string fixed at both ends......Page 211 6.4.5 Standing waves......Page 213 6.5.1 Forced oscillations......Page 214 6.6 Resonance — a part of life......Page 215 6.6.1 The Tacoma Narrows bridge disaster......Page 216 6.6.2 The Mexico City earthquake......Page 217 6.8 The magic of sine and the simplicity of nature......Page 218 6.8.1 The sum of a number of sine waves......Page 219 A historical interlude: Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768–1830)......Page 220 Appendix 6.1 The speed of transverse waves on a string......Page 223 Appendix 6.2 Dimensional analysis......Page 225 Appendix 6.3 Calculation of the natural frequencies of a string fixed at both ends......Page 226 7.1.1 Sound as a pressure wave......Page 228 7.1.2 The speed of sound......Page 229 7.1.3 Ultrasound and infrasound......Page 230 7.2 Sound as a tool......Page 231 7.3 Superposition of sound waves......Page 240 7.3.1 Standing waves......Page 241 7.4 Sound intensity......Page 243 7.4.1 Real and perceived differences in the intensity of sound......Page 245 7.4.2 Quantifying perception......Page 246 7.4.3 Intensity level (loudness)......Page 248 7.4.4 The ‘annoyance factor’......Page 250 7.5.1 Pitch......Page 251 7.5.3 Propagation of sound in open and confined spaces......Page 253 7.6 Strings and pipes in music......Page 256 7.7 The Doppler effect......Page 257 7.7.2 A moving source......Page 258 7.7.3 Two Doppler effects?......Page 259 7.7.4 Moving away from a source at almost the speed of sound......Page 260 7.7.5 Shock waves......Page 261 7.7.6 Shock waves and light......Page 262 A historical interlude: The sound barrier......Page 263 Appendix 7.1 Derivation of Doppler frequency changes......Page 268 8: Light as a Wave......Page 274 8.1.1 The mystery of waves in nothing......Page 275 8.2.1 Superposition......Page 276 8.2.2 Huygens’ principle......Page 277 8.2.3 Huygen’s principle and refraction......Page 278 8.2.4 Diffraction......Page 280 8.2.5 Huygens’ principle and diffraction......Page 281 8.3.1 Diffraction of light......Page 282 8.3.2 The experiment with light......Page 283 8.3.3 Other apertures......Page 284 8.3.4 The curious case of the opaque disc......Page 285 8.4.2 The Rayleigh criterion......Page 286 8.5 Other electromagnetic waves......Page 288 8.5.1 Message from the stars......Page 289 8.6 Light from two sources......Page 290 8.6.1 Young’s experiment......Page 291 8.6.2 A pattern within a pattern......Page 294 8.7.1 The Michelson interferometer......Page 295 8.8 Thin films......Page 297 8.8.1 Newton’s rings......Page 298 8.8.2 Non-reflective coatings......Page 299 8.9 Diffraction gratings......Page 301 8.9.1 Practical diffraction gratings......Page 302 8.10.1 X-ray diffraction......Page 304 8.10.2 Electron diffraction......Page 308 8.11 Coherence......Page 309 8.11.1 The question of phase......Page 310 8.12.1 Polarisation of electromagnetic waves......Page 311 8.12.2 What happens to light as it passes through a polaroid?......Page 312 8.12.3 Polarisation by reflection......Page 314 A historical interlude: Thomas Young (1773–1829)......Page 315 Appendix 8.1 Single slit diffraction......Page 317 Appendix 8.2 Reflectance of thin films......Page 322 9.1.1 Photography......Page 324 9.1.2 History of the photograph......Page 326 9.1.4 Interpretation of photographic images......Page 331 9.2.1 The inventor......Page 332 9.2.2 The principle......Page 333 9.2.3 Making a hologram......Page 334 9.2.5 Applications of holography......Page 336 10.1.1 The gravitational force......Page 338 10.1.2 The electrostatic force......Page 340 10.1.3 Coulomb’s law......Page 341 10.2.1 Vector fields......Page 343 10.2.2 A picture to represent a physical law......Page 344 10.2.3 Gauss’s theorem......Page 346 10.2.4 The energy in an electric field......Page 350 10.3.1 Magnetic materials......Page 352 10.4.1 Electric currents......Page 353 10.4.2 Ampère’s discovery......Page 354 10.4.4 Oersted’s discovery......Page 355 10.4.5 Ampère’s law......Page 358 10.4.6 The effect of a magnetic field on an electric charge......Page 361 10.4.7 Electromagnetism......Page 362 10.4.8 The interaction between moving charges......Page 363 10.5.1 Faraday’s discovery......Page 364 10.6.1 Putting facts together......Page 367 10.6.2 An important extension to Ampère’s law......Page 368 10.6.3 The four laws......Page 370 10.6.4 As we turn on a current.........Page 371 10.6.5 The propagating magnetic field......Page 372 10.7.1 Cause and effect — A summary......Page 376 10.7.2 Making an electromagnetic pulse......Page 377 10.7.4 Putting theory into practice......Page 378 A historical interlude: James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879)......Page 381 Appendix 10.1 Energy density of a uniform electric field......Page 385 Appendix 10.2 Units and Dimensions......Page 386 11: ‘Atoms of Light’ — The Birth of Quantum Theory......Page 388 11.1.1 How does matter emit electromagnetic energy?......Page 389 11.1.3 The Blackbody radiation spectrum......Page 390 11.1.4 The Stefan–Boltzmann law......Page 391 11.1.5 Wien’s displacement law; the spectral distribution......Page 392 11.2.1 Cavity radiation......Page 394 11.2.3 Wien’s displacement law......Page 396 11.2.5 Second try — a model which incorporates the wave nature of light......Page 398 11.2.6 How can the theoretical models be ‘half right’?......Page 399 11.3.1 A guess to start......Page 400 11.3.2 Showing that Planck’s ‘lucky guess’ formula works at all wavelengths......Page 401 11.3.4 Nature’s secret......Page 402 11.4.1 The quantum hypothesis......Page 403 11.4.2 Quantum discrimination......Page 404 11.4.4 What does the quantum do after it is emitted?......Page 405 11.4.5 How does the quantum hypothesis solve the ‘ultraviolet catastrophe’?......Page 406 11.5.2 The average energy......Page 408 11.5.4 Quantum theory......Page 409 A historical interlude: Max Planck (1858–1947)......Page 412 Appendix 11.1 Deriving the Stefan– Boltzmann law from Planck’s radiation formula and calculating the value of Stefan’s constant......Page 416 12: The Development of Quantum Mechanics......Page 418 12.1.1 From oscillators to photons to other things......Page 419 12.1.3 The quantum enters the picture......Page 420 12.1.4 Quantum jumps — light comes out of the atom......Page 421 12.1.6 The demise of determinism......Page 422 12.1.7 A new way of thinking......Page 423 12.2.1 Heisenberg’s approach......Page 424 12.2.3 A matrix for everything......Page 425 12.2.4 Rules of the game......Page 426 12.2.6 An example of the Heisenberg method......Page 427 12.2.7 Matrices do not commute!......Page 428 12.2.8 Laws of nature must be built into the matrices......Page 429 12.3.2 A ‘table top’ experiment with polaroids......Page 430 12.3.3 Experimenting with a series of polaroids......Page 432 12.3.4 The uncertainty principle......Page 435 12.4.2 De Broglie’s original idea......Page 437 12.4.3 Adapting de Broglie waves......Page 440 12.4.4 Uncertainty from another aspect......Page 441 12.5.1 A wider view......Page 442 12.5.2 Relativity and quantum mechanics......Page 443 12.5.3 Triumph out of difficulty......Page 444 12.5.5 Positron emission tomography......Page 445 12.5.6 Antiprotons and antihydrogen......Page 447 12.6.1 Critics of the Copenhagen interpretation......Page 448 12.6.2 Bell’s theorem......Page 449 12.6.3 A precursor of quantum reality......Page 450 A historical interlude: Niels Bohr (1885–1963)......Page 451 Appendix 12.1 Calculating the radius of atomic orbits for hydrogen......Page 456 13: Atoms of Light Acting as Particles......Page 458 13.1.2 Short sharp shocks......Page 459 13.1.3 An accidental discovery......Page 460 13.1.4 How long would we expect to wait? An order-ofmagnitude calculation......Page 461 13.1.5 The ‘lucky’ electron......Page 462 13.1.6 Einstein’s photoelectric equation......Page 463 13.1.7 Millikan’s Experiment......Page 464 13.1.8 Current flowing uphill......Page 466 13.1.9 The photoelectric work function......Page 468 13.1.10 Practical applications......Page 469 13.2.1 Real bullets have momentum......Page 471 13.2.3 Collision dynamics revisited......Page 472 13.2.5 The photon loses energy but does not slow down......Page 473 13.2.6 Experimental verification......Page 475 A historical interlude: Robert A. Millikan (1868–1953)......Page 476 Appendix 13.1 Mathematics of the Compton effect......Page 481 14: Atoms of Light Behaving as Waves......Page 486 14.1.2 Detecting a single photon......Page 487 14.1.4 Single slit diffraction......Page 489 14.1.5 Double slit diffraction and interference......Page 490 14.1.6 Measuring ‘clicks’ as photons arrive one by one......Page 491 14.1.7 Separating the possible paths......Page 494 14.2.1 Partial reflection......Page 496 14.2.2 The strange theory of the photon......Page 499 14.2.4 The rotating amplitude vector......Page 500 14.2.5 How can we believe all this?......Page 503 14.2.6 It all comes together......Page 504 14.2.7 Quantum electrodynamics......Page 505 A historical interlude: Richard Feynman (1918–1988)......Page 507 15: Relativity Part 1: How It Began......Page 514 15.1.1 Space and the ancient philosophers......Page 515 15.1.3 Space and time — according to Isaac Newton......Page 517 15.2.1 Starting with a clean slate......Page 518 15.2.2 Frames of reference — defining a point of view......Page 519 15.2.3 Specifying the prejudices......Page 521 15.3.1 The Michelson–Morley experiment......Page 523 15.3.2 Timing the ferry......Page 524 15.3.3 Details of the experiment......Page 526 15.3.4 A powerful conclusion......Page 527 15.4.2 The new model......Page 528 15.5.1 Nature does not discriminate......Page 529 15.5.2 Galileo had the right idea!......Page 531 15.5.3 The Galilean transformation......Page 532 15.5.4 The speed of a bullet......Page 533 15.6.2 An imaginary experiment with light......Page 535 15.6.3 A paradox?......Page 536 15.6.4 ‘The impossible’ in mathematical form......Page 537 15.6.5 The Lorentz transformation......Page 539 15.6.6 The gamma factor......Page 541 15.6.7 Addition of velocities — a classical example......Page 542 15.6.8 Addition of velocities when the speeds are relativistic......Page 543 15.6.9 Playing with the formula......Page 544 15.7 The fourth dimension......Page 545 15.7.1 Definition of an ‘event’......Page 546 15.7.3 Pythagoras revisited......Page 547 15.7.4 Time as a fourth dimension......Page 549 15.7.5 The smoking astronaut......Page 550 15.8 A philosophical interlude......Page 551 A historical interlude: Hendrik A. Lorentz (1852–1928)......Page 552 16: Relativity Part 2: Verifiable Predictions......Page 560 16.1.1 Time dilation in action......Page 561 16.1.2 Living on borrowed time?......Page 562 16.2.1 Bringing energy into the picture......Page 563 16.2.2 Conservation of momentum — a thought experiment with snooker balls......Page 564 16.2.3 Interacting with another time frame......Page 566 16.2.4 Momentum from another frame of reference......Page 567 16.2.5 A new look at the concept of mass......Page 568 16.2.6 The relativistic formula for momentum......Page 569 16.2.7 Energy in different frames of reference......Page 571 16.2.8 High energy particle accelerators......Page 572 16.2.9 Nuclear structure......Page 577 16.2.10 Nuclear fusion — nature’s way of powering the sun......Page 578 16.2.11 Nuclear fission......Page 579 16.4.1 The ‘recoiling gun’ revisited......Page 580 16.4.2 Radioactive decay......Page 582 A historical interlude: Albert Einstein (1879–1955)......Page 584 Appendix 16.1 Deriving the relativistic formula for kinetic energy T = mc2 -m0c2......Page 589 Appendix 16.2 Dimensions and units of energy......Page 591 Appendix 16.3 Relativistic analysis of the beta decay of bismuth 210......Page 593 17: Epilogue......Page 596 17.1.1 Collisions make particles......Page 597 17.1.2 Prediction and discovery of the πmeson......Page 598 17.1.3 The forces between the particles......Page 600 17.1.4 The laws of the world of fundamental particles......Page 602 17.1.5 Quarks......Page 604 17.1.6 Charm......Page 606 17.1.7 The return of photographic emulsion......Page 608 17.1.8 More quarks......Page 611 17.2.1 The role of light as the carrier of the electromagnetic force......Page 612 17.2.2 Unification — the long hard road......Page 613 17.2.3 The heavy photon......Page 614 17.2.4 The full circle......Page 617 Index......Page 620 Ch. 1. Introducing light. 1.1. The perception of light through the ages. 1.2. Colours. 1.3. Measuring the speed of light. 1.4. The process of vision. 1.5. The nature of light. 1.6. The birth of quantum mechanics -- ch. 2. Geometrical optics: reflection. 2.1. Fermat's law. 2.2. Mirrors -- ch. 3. Geometrical optics: refraction. 3.1. Refraction. 3.2. Lenses. 3.4. Objects and images: converging lenses. 3.5. Lens combinations. 3.6. The eye. 3.7. Making visible what the eye cannot see. 3.8. Combinations of lenses. 3.9. A final note on Fermat's principle -- ch. 4. Light from afar - astronomy. 4.1. The earth. 4.2. The Moon. 4.3. Sizes and distances. 4.4. The planets. 4.5. The Copernican revolution. 4.6. After Copernicus. 4.7. The solar system in perspective -- ch. 5. Light from the past - astrophysics. 5.1. The birth of astrophysics. 5.2. The methods of astrophysics. 5.3. Other stars and their 'solar systems'. 5.4. Reconstructing the past. 5.5. The life and death of a star -- ch. 6. Introducing waves. 6.1 Waves - the basic means of communication. 6.2. The mathematics of a travelling wave. 6.3. The superposition of waves. 6.4. Applying the superposition principle. 6.5. Forced oscillations and resonance. 6.6. Resonance - a part of life. 6.7. Diffraction - waves can bend around corners. 6.8. The magic of sine and the simplicity of nature -- ch. 7. Sound waves. 7.1. Sound and hearing. 7.2. Sound as a tool. 7.3. Superposition of sound waves. 7.4. Sound intensity. 7.5. Other sensations. 7.6. Strings and pipes in music. 7.7. The Doppler effect -- ch. 8. Light as a wave. 8.1. Light as a wave. 8.2. Wave properties which do not make reference to a medium. 8.3. Specifically light. 8.4. Is there a limit to what we can distinguish? 8.5. Other electromagnetic waves. 8.6. Light from two sources. 8.7. Interference as a tool. 8.8. Thin films. 8.9. Diffraction gratings. 8.10. Other 'lights'. 8.11. Coherence. 8.12. Polarisation -- ch. 9. Making images. 9.1. Creating images. 9.2. Holography -- ch. 10. There was electricity, there was magnetism, and then there was light ... 10.1. The mystery of 'action at a distance'. 10.2. 'Fields of force'. 10.3. Magnetism. 10.4. Electrodynamics. 10.5. Getting electric charges to move with the help of magnetism. 10.6. Maxwell's synthesis. 10.7. Then there was light -- ch. 11. 'Atoms of light' - the birth of quantum theory. 11.1. Emission of energy by radiation. 11.2. Classical theoretical models of the blackbody radiation spectrum. 11.3. Max Planck enters the scene. 11.4. Planck's 'act of despair'. 11.5. From an idea to a formula - the mathematical journey -- ch. 12. The development of quantum mechanics. 12.1. The development of quantum mechanics. 12.2. Matrix mechanics. 12.3. Order does matter. 12.4. Wave mechanics. 12.5. Generalised quantum mechanics. 12.6. Quantum reality -- ch. 13. Atoms of light acting as particles. 13.1. The photoelectric effect. 13.2. The Compton effect - more evidence -- ch. 14. Atoms of light behaving as waves. 14.1. Photons one at a time. 14.2. Feynman's 'strange theory of the photon' -- ch. 15. Relativity pt. 1: how it began. 15.1. Space and time. 15.2. 'Dogmatic rigidity'. 15.3. Looking for the ether. 15.4. Symmetry. 15.5. The first postulate. 15.6. The second postulate. 15.7. The fourth dimension. 15.8. A philosophical interlude -- ch. 16. Relativity pt. 2: verifiable predictions. 16.1. Time dilation. 16.2. E = mc2, the most famous result of all. 16.3. The steps from symmetry to nuclear energy. 16.4. Working with relativity -- ch. 17. Epilogue. 17.1. Making matter out of energy. 17.2. A unified theory of weak and electromagnetic forces This Book Is The First Of Its Kind To Devote Itself At This Level To The Key Role Played By Light And Electromagnetic Radiation In The Universe. Readers Are Introduced To Philosophical Hypotheses Such As The Economy, Symmetry, And Universality Of Natural Laws, And Are Then Guided To Practical Consequences Such As The Rules Of Geometrical Optics And Even Einstein's Well-known But Mysterious Relationship, E = Mc[superscript 2]. Most Chapters Feature A Pen Picture Of The Life And Character Of A Relevant Scientific Figure. These Historical Interludes Include, Among Others, Galileo's Conflicts With The Inquisition, Fourier's Taunting Of The Guillotine, Neils Bohr And World War Ii, And The Unique Character Of Richard Feynman.--jacket. Introducing Light -- Geometrical Optics : Reflection -- Geometric Optics : Refraction -- Light From Afar : Astronomy -- Light From The Past : Astrophysics -- Introducing Waves -- Sound Waves -- Light As A Wave -- Making Images -- There Was Electricity, There Was Magneticism, And Then There Was Light-- -- 'atoms Of Light' : The Birth Of Quantum Theory -- The Development Of Quantum Mechanics -- Atoms Of Light Acting As Particles -- Atoms Of Light Behaving As Waves -- Relativity Part 1 : How It Began -- Relativity Part 2 : Verifiable Predictions -- Epilogue. Alex Montwill & Ann Breslin. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.