Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... Magnetism: A Very Short Introductionby Stephen J. Blundell
None Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. One of the worst scientific treatises ever. Never answers questions like: What is alternating current? How does it differ from radio transmitters that are also supposed to be based on 'oscillations'? What are the geometrical angles involved when magnetic and electric fields interact, and what is their origin on the atomic/subatomic scale (and consequently, why do electric motors work at all)? Why does the 'spin' property of elementary particles only manifest in unevenly strong magnetic fields? Adding only about 10 pages of appendices could have clarified these topics and made the main text understandable and enjoyable. So, because these omissions are so elementary mistakes, one star. One star doesn't mean I didn't learn anything from it, it just means the mistakes are severe beyond comprehension. ( ) . . Contents Acknowledgements List of illustrations 1. Mysterious attraction? 2. The Earth as a magnet 3. Electrical current and the path to power 4. Unification 5. Magnetism and relativity 6. Quantum magnetism 7. Spin 8. The magnetic library 9. Magnetism on Earth and in space 10. Exotic magnetism Mathematical appendix Further reading Index no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesVery Short Introductions (317)
"In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen J. Blundell illuminates the mysterious force of magnetism. For centuries, magnetism has been used for various purposes--through compasses it gave us the ability to navigate, and through motors, generators, and turbines, it has given us power. Blundell explores our understanding of electricity and magnetism, from the work of Galvani, Ampere, Faraday, and Tesla, and describes how Maxwell and Faraday's work led to the unification of electricity and magnetism--one of the most imaginative developments in theoretical physics. Finally, he discusses the relationship between magnetism and relativity, quantum magnetism, and its impact on computers and information storage, showing how magnetism has changed our fundamental understanding of the Universe." -- Publisher's description. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNone
Google Books — Loading... RatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |