Numerous interesting challenges are proposed. Indeed, every page presents at least one surprise or provocation for the reader to think about.

When we look at nature, we often have the same experience. We watch, we are astonished, we do not believe our eyes, we think, and finally we understand the trick. Read- ing a book on general physics should be like going to a magic show. In order to be captivating, the text tries to startle the reader as much as possible. The present volume is the second of a six-volume overview of physics that arose from a threefold aim that I have pursued since 1990: to present motion in a way that is simple, up to date and captivating. This simple, intuitive and unusual way of learning relativity should reward the curiosity of every reader – whether student or professional. The text shows that in both domains, all equations follow from these two limit values. General relativity is the exploration of the force limit c4/4G. Special relativity is the exploration of the energy speed limit c. In the study of motion – physics – special and general relativity form two important building blocks. This volume presents the best of them in the domains of relativity and cosmology. Curiosity about how people, animals, things, images and empty space move leads to many adven- tures. This book is written for anybody who is curious about nature and motion. All great adventures in life allow this, and exploring motion is one of them. And we experience intense and beautiful emotions. But by overcoming our fears we grow in strength. The motto of the text, die Menschen stärken, die Sachen klären, a famous statement by Hartmut von Hentig on pedagogy, translates as: ‘To fortify people, to clarify things.’ Clarifying things – and adhering only to the truth – requires courage, as changing the habits of thought produces fear, often hidden by anger.

Reading a book on general physics should be like going to a magic show. In order to be up to date, the text is enriched by the many gems – both theoretical and empirical – that are scattered throughout the scientific literature. The whole text is within the reach of an undergraduate. Understanding the concepts of physics is given precedence over using formulae in calculations.

In order to be simple, the text focuses on concepts, while keeping mathematics to the necessary minimum. It resulted from a threefold aim I have pursued since 1990: to present motion in a way that is simple, up to date and captivating. The present volume is the first of a six-volume overview of physics.

In the structure of modern physics, shown in Figure 1, the results on everyday motion form the major part of the starting point at the bottom. This text explores how these six results are deduced and how they fit with all those observations that seem to contradict them. Yes, nature is indeed lazy: in every motion, it minimizes change. This volume presents the best of them in the domain of everyday life.Ĭarefully observing everyday motion allows us to deduce six essential statements: everyday motion is continuous, conserved, relative, reversible, mirror-invariant – and lazy. Curiosity about how people, animals, things, images and space move leads to many adventures.

Physics science book for college