The physics of Star trek

Introduces physics as it analyzes the science behind "Star Trek," explaining the intricacies of warp speed and showing the difference between a holodeck and a hologram.;Section one: A cosmic poker game : in which the physics of inertial dampers and tractor beams paves the way for time travel, warp speed, deflector shields, wormholes, and other spacetime oddities. Newton antes ; Einstein raises ; Hawking shows his hand ; Data ends the game -- Matter matter everywhere : in which the reader explores transporter beams, warp drives, dilithium crystals, matter-antimatter engines, and the holodeck. Atoms or bits ; The most bang for your buck ; Holodecks and holograms -- Section three: The invisible universe, or things that go bump in the night : in which we speak of things that may exist but are not yet seen--extraterrestrial life, multiple dimensions, and an exotic zoo of other physics possibilities and impossibilities. The search for Spock ; The menagerie of possibilities ; Impossibilities : the undiscoverable country.

What warps when you’re traveling at warp speed? What is the difference between a wormhole and a black hole? Are time loops really possible, and can I kill my grandmother before I am born? Anyone who has ever wondered “could this really happen?” will gain useful insights into the Star Trek universe (and, incidentally, the real world of physics) in this charming and accessible guide. Lawrence M. Krauss boldly goes where Star Trek has gone-and beyond. From Newton to Hawking, from Einstein to Feynman, from Kirk to Picard, Krauss leads readers on a voyage to the world of physics as we now know it and as it might one day be.

Are you a Trekker, Trekkie, or a scientific type who likes to nitpick about technical details missed by Star Trek's writers? If you fit into one of the three categories it's likely that you'd enjoy this book. Dr. Krauss points out many scientific impossiblities in the four incarnations of Star Trek, such as the result that moving a craft the size of the Enterprise at even one half the speed of light is simply not practical. However, this book is not a just a 'nitpicker's' guide to the Star Trek genre. He also highlights phenomena, seen on the shows, that are in fact possible according to what we understand about the universe. For instance, time travel is a completely valid solution to Einstein's gravitational field equations. So you might enjoy this book if you're the type that likes to investigate the science that is in science fiction.

How does the Star Trek universe stack up against the real universe? What warps when you're traveling at warp speed? What is the difference between a wormhole and a black hole? Are time loops really possible, and can I kill my grandmother before I am born? Anyone who has ever wondered'could this really happen?'will gain useful insights into the Star Trek universe (and, incidentally, the real world of physics) in this charming and accessible guide. Lawrence M. Krauss boldly goes where Star Trek has gone-and beyond. From Newton to Hawking, from Einstein to Feynman, from Kirk to Picard, Krauss leads readers on a voyage to the world of physics as we now know it and as it might one day be. Foreword by Stephen Hawking Preface Preface to the Revised Edition A Cosmic Poker Game Newton Antes Einstein Raises Hawking Shows His Hand Data Ends the Game Matter Matter Everywhere Atoms or Bits The Most Bang for Your Buck Holodecks and Holograms The Invisible Universe, or Things That Go Bump in the Night The Search for Spock The Menagerie of Possibilities Impossibilities: The Undiscoverable Country Epilogue Notes Acknowledgments Index About the Author With a foreword by Stephen HawkingAustralian Institute of Physics (Tas.) Schools Physics Quiz, 1997 - School Participation Awa rd awarded to The Hutchins School.