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Summary:

"At the core of Einstein's general theory of relativity are a set of equations that explain the relationship among gravity, space, and time--possibly the most perfect intellectual achievement of modern physics. For over a century, physicists have been exploring, debating, and at times neglecting Einstein's theory in their quest to uncover the history of the universe, the origin of time, and the evolution of solar systems, stars, and galaxies. In this sweeping narrative of science and culture, Pedro Ferreira explains the theory through the human drama surrounding it: the personal feuds and intellectual battles of the biggest names in twentieth-century physics, from Einstein and Eddington to Hawking and Penrose. We are in the midst of a momentous transformation in modern physics. As scientists look farther and more clearly into space than ever before, The Perfect Theory engagingly reveals the greater relevance of general relativity, showing us where it started, where it has led, and where it can still take us"-- [Provided by publisher]

Table of Contents:

• Prologue
• If a Person Falls Freely
• The Most Valuable Discovery
• Correct Mathematics, Abominable Physics
• Collapsing Stars
• Completely Cuckoo
• Radio Days
• Wheelerisms
• Singularities
• Unification Woes
• Seeing Gravity
• The Dark Universe
• The End of Spacetime
• A Spectacular Extrapolation
• Something Is Going to Happen.

Author/Creator:

Ferreira, Pedro G. , author

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

The perfect theory: a century of geniuses and the battle over general relativity [by Ferreira, P.G.]

Other Related Resources:

Print version: Perfect theory [by Ferreira, P.G.] (Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 — ISBN 9780547554891; LCCN 2013021741; OCLC Number 823010640)

Subjects:

General relativity (Physics) — History — 20th century

Physicists — Biography

Physics — History — 20th century

Science — Social aspects — History — 20th century

Science and civilization — History — 20th century

1900-1999

Physicists

Physics

Science — Social aspects

Science

Science and civilization

General relativity (Physics)

Genres:

Biographies

History

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on: Print version record.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 288 pages)

Digital Characteristics:

text file

Call Numbers:

QC173.6 .F47 2014eb

ISBNs:

0547554907 (electronic bk.)
9780547554907 (electronic bk.)
1306361087 (electronic bk.)
9781306361088 (electronic bk.)
9780547554891 (hardback) [Invalid]
0547554893 (hardback) [Invalid]

OCLC Numbers:

869346088