A Simple Guide to Popular Physics: An Introduction to Particles, Quantum Physicsand Cosmology for Absolute Beginners

A Simple Guide - Synopsis. One of the most brilliant and well-known scientists of all time, Albert Einstein, said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." Tony Harris proves with this concise guide that he does understand his subject matter very well indeed. The book he has written will inspire a whole new generation of scientists - a generation that will span all age groups.A Simple Guide to Popular Physics does exactly what the title promises - it delves into the mind-boggling world of particles, quantum physics and cosmology in a clear and user-friendly way. Inspired by Professor Brian Cox's statement that his simple action of rubbing a diamond between his hands had altered every electron in the entire universe, Tony Harris took it upon himself to delve further into the subject, exploring Pauli's Exclusion Principle - the principle that no two electrons can be in the same quantum state in atoms - that Professor Cox had been introducing to the millions of people watching his TV presentation. Intrigued and, by his own admission, more than a little sceptical, Tony researched the principle and revised his own understanding of it, realising that by questioning Professor Cox's statement, he had increased his knowledge base substantially. And that is what led to this book.Have you ever asked yourself why, if the atoms that make up all matter consist mainly of empty space, structures don't collapse and you don't fall through your living room floor? Are you fascinated by the relativity between time and space? Perhaps you've wondered whether antimatter really exists, and if so, where is it? Where does it come from? Is it capable of existance as we understand the word? Is our reality even real?Tony Harris answers these questions and many more with this book, breaking concepts down into simple components and explaining each in user-friendly terms. Whatever your age, this concise guide will provide you with the background and the confidence you need to find out more, whether it be about the very tiny - particle physics and quantum mechanics - or the unimaginable massive, such as cosmology and the Big Bang.A Simple Guide is here to whet your appetite. It aims to give you a broad overview of the basics of particles, quantum physics and cosmology, introducing you to experiments conducted by some of the greatest scientists the world has known along with the work they have done. Armed with this solid grounding, you will then be in a good position to expand your knowledge, just like Tony did himself, and maybe even conduct the experiments yourself to observe the results first hand.The wonderful world of science is accessible to everyone. A Simple Guide provides the grounding; all you need to add is an enquiring mind.