- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Souvenir Press Ltd; New edition edition (May 7 1998)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0285634429
- ISBN-13: 978-0285634428
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.4 x 2.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 381 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,300,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
The subtitle of this work claims just a bit more than is delivered. After a brief consideration of the ancient Greeks' and modern mathematicians' view of infinity (and infinitesimals) in theoretical physics and 20th-century cosmology, experienced science writer Morris (Cosmic Questions, LJ 11/1/93) offers a smooth-flowing account of some current ideas that will stretch his readers' imagination. Commendably, he is always careful to define all new terms as he introduces them into the discussion. Though at times the historical account is somewhat oversimplified, on balance, this is a good introduction to some difficult theoretical concepts. Recommended for all public and academic libraries.?Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
The idea of the infinite has baffled thinkers since ancient times; now a top science writer tries to shed light on the concept. Morris (Cosmic Questions, 1993, etc.) begins by noting the paradoxes that arise when infinite numbers are put through standard arithmetic processes: Half of infinity remains infinite, and infinity minus 30 trillion is still infinite. Precisely because of its tendency to produce paradox, infinity has always had a shady reputation. George Cantor, the first mathematician to seriously study it, went mad. It was the suggestion of infinite worlds, rather than the heliocentric model of the solar system, that got Giordano Bruno burnt at the stake. And Newton went to great pains to find a way to explain his newly invented calculus without resorting to the infinitesimals (infinitely tiny numbers) on which its operations depend; he never quite managed the trick. Morris spends a good deal of time showing how astronomers and cosmologists have dealt with the growth of the observable universe and with the implication that the actual universe might really be infinite. Much of our modern picture of the cosmos arises from the fact that certain equations in Einstein's general relativity theory produce infinite answers--``singularities''--when the right values are plugged in. From these troublesome infinities eventually arose the concepts of the Big Bang and black holes, both of which are now considered all but confirmed by observational evidence. Morris is a clear and lively writer, with a penchant for down-to-earth examples--a useful asset in dealing with a subject so notoriously difficult. A good survey not only of infinity, but of the scientific revolutions that have grown out of our attempts to grapple with the concept. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Achilles in the Quantam Universe, Jan 7 2000
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Achilles In The Quantum Universe (Hardcover)
When I picked up "Achilles in the Quantam Universe" it was soley for a school project. We were assigned to read a physics related book and "A Brief History of Time" wasn't at the library. I found, though, that once I picked it up I couldn't stop reading. Not only is it written so that anyone can understand it, Morris adds humor, anecdotes and footnotes that keep the reader immersed in the amazing accounts of historical events. Starting with Cantor, Plato and Zeno, the book moves through the discoveries of some of the world's greatest physicists. It focuses on the history of the concept of infinity, but while doing so, explains such things as the development of the idea of an electron and the charting of our solar system. He makes Galileo, Newton and Einstein seem real, as if he was a friend telling of thier experiments. The book is informative, fun and an amazing account of the history of "infinity", and I would recommend it to anyone.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clarity!, Jun 13 1997
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Achilles In The Quantum Universe (Hardcover)
Where other science writers leave many ideas murkyand impenetrable, Morris has a knack for making
everything clear. As the review excerpt on one
of his previous books said, he can explain Stephen
Hawking better than Hawking does. In this book, he
explains the concept of infinity, beginning with
Zeno's paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise, and
concluding with black holes and the possibility of
an infinite number of universe. When I looked at
the table ot contents, I thought, "I'll never be
able to understand all this." But I did.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wish I had this book before taking calculus, Nov 28 1997
By kurtlayman@aol.com - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Achilles In The Quantum Universe (Hardcover)
As a lay reader who's interest in math and quantum physics is limited to the "gee whiz" aspects of science, this book is a must read. There are great mind twisters and insights into the reality of math and physics. I was blown away by the discussion about calculus. Wish I had the insights when I flunked the class....may have helped!
Listmania!
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