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The Quantum World
In paperback for the first time, this compact volume presents quantum mechanics for the general reader. It offers a lucid description of the intellectual challenges and disagreements in the study of the behavior of atomic and sub-atomic particles--a field that has completely changed our view of the physical world, but that is still the subject of unresolved debate about its own fundamental interpretation. The work is accessible to those with no background in higher mathematics, but will also interest readers who have a more specialized knowledge of scientific topics.
The author has spent most of his working life as a theoretical elementary particle physicist and from 1968 to 1979 was Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge. In 1979 he resigned to train for the ministry of the Church of England, and he is now an ordained priest. Here he describes a theory that has been spectacularly successful in predicting the behavior of objects the size of atoms and smaller but that has aroused conflicting views about the nature of reality and the degree of independence between the world around us and ourselves as observers.
The author has spent most of his working life as a theoretical elementary particle physicist and from 1968 to 1979 was Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge. In 1979 he resigned to train for the ministry of the Church of England, and he is now an ordained priest. Here he describes a theory that has been spectacularly successful in predicting the behavior of objects the size of atoms and smaller but that has aroused conflicting views about the nature of reality and the degree of independence between the world around us and ourselves as observers.
- GenresSciencePhysicsNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 1984
About the author
John C. Polkinghorne
51 books113 followersJohn Charlton Polkinghorne is an English theoretical physicist, theologian, writer and Anglican priest. A prominent and leading voice explaining the relationship between science and religion, he was professor of Mathematical physics at the University of Cambridge from 1968 to 1979, when he resigned his chair to study for the priesthood, becoming an ordained Anglican priest in 1982. He served as the president of Queens' College, Cambridge from 1988 until 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 15, 2012
Serviceable rather than scintillating. It's too short to be comprehensive, but has an advantage in that it covers basic concepts and experimental methods before plunging into the philosophical implications. I was intrigued to see philosophical questions and assumptions producing experimentally verifiable (or not) hypotheses/predictions such as the Bell inequality.
August 7, 2013
I am enjoying it so much I would like to share the feeling
It's a really easy to read book. The quantum difficulties are still there but it's encouraging someone so specialised has the same doubts as you
It's a really easy to read book. The quantum difficulties are still there but it's encouraging someone so specialised has the same doubts as you
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November 2, 2019Books written by Polkinghorne have a unique lucidity but still suffers from the well persisting lacuna that is filling the Gap between basic topics of quantum and a solid mathematical formulation. Quantum Physics cannot be enjoyed without learning the basic mathematice devices and collateral intricacies because these intricacies bring too much beauty to the quantum world forcing the governments to spend millions of dollars to resolve a seemingly mathematical problem which has nothing to do with the social welfare of the public but it recreates the nerves of Human race to such depth of roots it transforms the entire way of "scientism".
October 25, 2017
Not as good an introduction to quantum mechanics as could be expected. A bit too descriptive without a clear foundation.
July 10, 2018
Breve...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews