Wizards, Aliens, and Starships - Physics and Math in Fantasy and Science Fiction

Zusatztext "For those who want to learn the hard facts about the realities of space travel or the chances for alien life, and as an engaging supplemental text for physics and astronomy courses, Wizards, Aliens, and Starships would be an admirable choice." ---Sidney Perkowitz, Scientists' Bookshelf Informationen zum Autor Charles L. Adler is professor of physics at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Klappentext From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas--for instance, could Mr. Weasley's flying car in Harry Potter really exist? Which concepts might actually happen--and which ones wouldn't work at all? Wizards, Aliens, and Starships delves into the most extraordinary details in science fiction and fantasy--such as time warps, shape changing, rocket launches, and illumination by floating candle--and shows readers the physics and math behind the phenomena. "This terrific book analyzes the romantic ideas of science fiction using the hard-nosed reality of the laws of physics. It will interest all readers, from Star Trek enthusiasts to astrophysicists."--Paul Nahin, author of The Logician and the Engineer Zusammenfassung Explaining the science behind science fiction and fantasy—from the probable to the impossible From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas--for instance, could Mr. Weasley's flying car in the Harry Potter books really exist? Which concepts might actually happen, and which ones wouldn’t work at all? Wizards, Aliens, and Starships delves into the most extraordinary details in science fiction and fantasy--such as time warps, shape changing, rocket launches, and illumination by floating candle--and shows readers the physics and math behind the phenomena. With simple mathematical models, and in most cases using no more than high school algebra, Charles Adler ranges across a plethora of remarkable imaginings, from the works of Ursula K. Le Guin to Star Trek and Avatar , to explore what might become reality. Adler explains why fantasy in the Harry Potter and Dresden Files novels cannot adhere strictly to scientific laws, and when magic might make scientific sense in the muggle world. He examines space travel and wonders why it isn’t cheaper and more common today. Adler also discusses exoplanets and how the search for alien life has shifted from radio communications to space-based telescopes. He concludes by investigating the future survival of humanity and other intelligent races. Throughout, he cites an abundance of science fiction and fantasy authors, and includes concise descriptions of stories as well as an appendix on Newton's laws of motion. Wizards, Aliens, and Starships will speak to anyone wanting to know about the correct--and incorrect--science of science fiction and fantasy. 1 PLAYING THE GAME 1 1.1 The Purpose of the Book 1 1.2 The Assumptions I Make 3 1.3 Organization 4 1.4 The Mathematics and Physics You Need 5 1.5 Energy and Power 6 I POTTER PHYSICS 11 2 HARRY POTTER AND THE GREAT CONSERVATION LAWS 13 2.1 The Taxonomy of Fantasy 13 2.2 Transfiguration and the Conservation of Mass 14 2.3 Disapparition and the Conservation of Momentum 16 2.4 Reparo and the Second Law of Thermodynamics 21 3 WHY HOGWARTS IS SO DARK 27 3.1 Magic versus Technology 27 3.2 Illumination 28 4 FANTASTIC BEASTS AND HOW TO DISPROVE THEM 38 4.1 Hic sunt Dracones 38 4.2 How to Build a Giant 39 4.3 Kleiber's Law, Part 1: Mermaids 45 4.4 Kleiber's Law, Part 2: Owls, Dragons, Hippogriffs, and Other Flying Beasts 49 II SPACE TRAVEL 57 5 WHY COMPUTERS GET BETTER AND ...

Product details

• Authors: Adler, Charles Adler, Charles L. Adler
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.02.2014
• EAN: 9780691147154
• ISBN: 978-0-691-14715-4
• No. of pages: 400
• Dimensions: 165 mm x 245 mm x 35 mm
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general)