Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
Gravity is the undisputed king of the cosmos. It reaches from one end of the Universe to the other and influences everything from the fall of an apple to the launch of a spacecraft. Sir Isaac Newton provided the first modern theory of gravity more than 300 years ago, and Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity is the modern rule for gravity. These theories and the scientists' experiments are all described in Gravity, and How It Works.About the Author:
Peter Jedicke teaches mathematics and science at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, Canada
Synopsis
Gravity is the undisputed king of the cosmos. It reaches from one end of the Universe to the other and influences everything from the fall of an apple to the launch of a spacecraft. Sir Isaac Newton provided the first modern theory of gravity more than 300 years ago, and Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity is the modern rule for gravity. These theories and the scientists' experiments are all described in Gravity, and How It Works.
About the Author:
Peter Jedicke teaches mathematics and science at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, Canada
Children's Literature
Produced by the excellent Scientific American magazine, this book is surprisingly sparse in its photos and diagrams. However, despite this, the author succeeds at breaking down complex scientific concepts into readily understandable bites for his readers. He explores how the theory of gravity has evolved over time, from Galileo's early experiments to Newton's Laws of Gravity to Kepler's careful observations of the night sky. Jedicke even manages to explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity in basic terms while still conveying its importance. He also emphasizes how one discovery helped build on another, much as a jigsaw puzzle is put together. The fascinating last chapter focuses on Dark Matter, examining where the study of gravitation may be heading. He shows how the understanding of gravity has led to an expanded knowledge of the universe, from its possible creation to the make-up of the world in string theory. Overall, this fascinating history of gravity gives readers a sense of how recognizing this universal force has changed humanity's destiny, leading to space travel and beyond. Reviewer: Laura Ruttig