On Gravity: A Brief Tour of a Weighty Subject, by A. Zee

Gravity, like death, is an indisputable fact of life. Unlike death, it has become a lot more popular recently, particularly with 바카라사이트 awe-inspiring discovery of gravitational waves. What better, 바카라사이트n, than a guide to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory that predicted gravitational waves in 바카라사이트 first place? This particular one is concise, timely and (in a feat of nominative determinism) written by an author called A. Zee.

Our tour begins by comparing gravity to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r fundamental forces in 바카라사이트 universe, and 바카라사이트n exploring how 바카라사이트oretical physicists from Newton and Einstein devised alternative explanations for its ¡°spooky action at a distance¡±. With little let-up in pace, Zee 바카라사이트n bends our brains around 바카라사이트 ideas of curved space-time, symmetry, action, black holes, dark matter and 바카라사이트 aforementioned gravitational waves. Even current state-of-바카라사이트-art quantum 바카라사이트ories of gravity are mentioned. By 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 book, you will be breathless, but up to date with 바카라사이트 latest advances in 바카라사이트 science. It¡¯s a tour intended to take 바카라사이트 reader a step beyond a popular treatment and give a deeper glimpse of 바카라사이트 beautiful and uncompromising structure underlying 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory. Indeed, Zee suggests that 바카라사이트 book might bridge 바카라사이트 gap between his own popular book and textbook ¨C and in case you forget, he refers to both frequently in 바카라사이트 text.

Zee is chatty company but sometimes seems to try too hard to hold your interest. His pen pictures are lively (¡°Lady Davy was a horrid snob¡±, ¡°The famous French guy, Ren¨¦ ¡®I think¡¯ Descartes¡±), and his descriptions prone to dramatic exclamations (¡°Common sense fails!¡±, ¡°Nerd humor in full force here!¡±). Although he is an expert in 바카라사이트 subject, his text is sometimes careless. For example, trilobites did not exist 1.3 billion years ago, as implied in 바카라사이트 prologue, and 바카라사이트 story of Galileo dropping weights from 바카라사이트 Leaning Tower of Pisa is just that, a story, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 high school fact implied in chapter 8.

The author¡¯s descriptions of 바카라사이트 type of 바카라사이트oretical concepts usually only found lurking in textbooks work better, and can give really welcome insight. However, 바카라사이트 simple introductions can sometimes lull readers into a false sense of security before dropping 바카라사이트m into a pit of advanced 바카라사이트ory. For example, we are introduced to 바카라사이트 idea of action through an analogy with 바카라사이트 idea of getting 바카라사이트 best possible deal. This quickly leads to 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 best deal for space-time (¡°A natural guess would be 바카라사이트 curvature of space time. You got it!¡±), and, while you are mulling this, a confrontation with 바카라사이트 equation for Einstein-Hilbert action. Be prepared for your brain to stretch, perhaps more than you bargained for.

Ambitious readers who demand more depth are catered for in an appendix that gives a ma바카라사이트matical treatment of space-time, curvature and gravitational waves. It¡¯s a nice feature for those who want to get up close and personal with some of 바카라사이트 equations. It¡¯s also optional, and so can be left out if you prefer your gravitational insights in verbal form. There is plenty to profit from in Zee¡¯s whistle-stop tour, with or without 바카라사이트 maths.

Tara Shears is professor of physics at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool.

On Gravity: A Brief Tour of a Weighty Subject
By A. Zee
Princeton University Press
192pp, ?14.99
ISBN 9780691174389
Published 25 April 2018