The Physics of Matter: an Introduction
Publisher
:
Seuil
Parution date
:
2001
EAN
:
9782020396042
Description
In Entrer en matière, Pablo Jensen takes the reader on a journey into the physics of matter and also gives non-scientists an introduction to physics in general. He addresses readers with minimal scientific knowledge with down-to-earth questions about the physical and chemical principles ruling the properties of matter: how come chocolate and butter heated together first melt and then burn? In which category do you put mashed potatoes, toothpaste, and flour since they do not flow like liquid but aren’t solid either? What makes a solid a solid? With practical examples taken from economics, the environment, history, and art, he explains the diverse and complex behavior of matter. He also explains how physicists have tried to explain the behavior of everyday items by “reconstructing” them from the atom on up. To Pablo Jensen, this is a reductionist view of quantum mechanics. The story of matter is much more interesting and complex than it is made out to be so far. For him, the study of physics influenced our current view of matter but quantum mechanics should not be used to explain microscopic properties of a material systematically. Entrer en matière is a truly fascinating book which is highly recommended to anyone even remotely interested in discovering more about matter and also to physicists and students alike.
Author
Pablo Jensen : A physicist, Pablo Jensen is a renowned researcher at the Laboratory of Physics of matter at the University of Lyon I, Claude Bernard. He founded in 1997 with the Lyon scientific community the “cafés des Sciences” project which aims at improving the dialogue between science and society.
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