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Cosmology: The Science of the Universe is an introduction to past and present cosmological theory. For much of the world's history, cosmological thought was formulated in religious or philosophical language and was thus theological or metaphysical in nature. However, cosmological speculation and theory has now become a science in which the empirical discoveries of the astronomer, theoretical physicist, and biologist are woven into intricate models that attempt to account for the universe as a whole. Professor Harrison draws on the discoveries and speculations of these scientists to provide a comprehensive survey of man's current understanding of the universe and its history. Tracing the rise of the scientific method, the major aim of this book is to provide an elementary understanding of the physical universe of modern times. Thoroughly revised and updated, this second edition extends the much acclaimed first edition taking into account the many developments that have occurred.
List of contents
Prefaces; Introduction; Part I: 1. What is cosmology?; 2. Early scientific cosmology; 3. Cartesian and Newtonian world systems; 4. Cosmology after Newton and before Einstein; 5. Stars; 6. Galaxies; 7. Location and the cosmic center; 8. Containment and the cosmic edge; 9. Space and time; Part II: 10. Curved space; 11. Special relativity; 12. General relativity; 13. Black holes; 14. Expansion of the universe; 15. Cosmic redshifts; 16. Newtonian cosmology; 17. Cosmic box; 18. Many universes; 19. Observational cosmology; Part III: 20. The early universe; 21. Horizons in the universe; 22. Inflation; 23. The cosmic numbers; 24. Darkness at night; 25. Creation of the universe; 26. Life in the universe; Index.
About the author
Edward Harrison (1919–2007) was Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Massachusetts, and adjunct Professor of Astronomy at the Steward Observatory, University of Arizona. He was born and educated in England, and served for several years in the British Army during World War II. He was principal scientist at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment and Rutherford High Energy Laboratory until 1966 when he became a Five College Professor at the University of Massachusetts, and taught at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges. He wrote several books, including Masks of the Universe, also published by Cambridge University Press, and published hundreds of technical papers in physics and astronomy journals.
Summary
An introduction to past and present cosmological theory that examines how the rise of the scientific method has informed our modern understanding of the universe. Thoroughly revised and updated, this second edition, originally published in 2000, has received high praise for Harrison's wide-ranging insights into the universe at large.
