The Scientific Companion Exploring the Physical World with Facts, Figures, and Formulas

by Emiliani, Cesare

• ISBN13: 9780471133247
• ISBN10: 0471133248
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-10-25
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

". . . infuses into the reader the conviction that science is exciting and can be understood by everyone." --American Scientist This new edition of the critically acclaimed Scientific Companion offers a comprehensive introduction to the physical sciences: physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, meteorology, biology, atmospheric science, and oceanography. Emiliani traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the present, explaining the nature of the galaxy, the Earth, inorganic and organic matter, and the development of scientific thought. More than 50 new illustrations appear throughout--from stunning aerial shots of Earth's topography to striking close-ups of the moon provided by NASA. Hundreds of additional photos, charts, maps, and diagrams, plus 35 tables of the most essential facts, figures, and formulas--from Planck's constant to the laws of thermodynamics, from quantum energy levels to Avogadro's number--make The Scientific Companion an ideal desktop reference. Written for the layperson, sufficiently detailed for students, it is the only book of its kind to bridge the gap between works of popular science and college textbooks.

Author Biography

CESARE EMILIANI is a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Miami.

Table of Contents

The Range of Space and Time.

Matter and Energy.

Atoms and Molecules.

The Sun.

The Evolution of the Sun and Other Stars.

The Origin and Evolution of the Universe.

The Origin and Evolution of the Solar System.

Planets and Satellites.

The Origin and Early Evolution of Life.

How the Earth Works.

Atmosphere.

Hydrosphere.

The Last Half-Billion Years.

The Cosmic Question.

Appendix.

Index.