Taking the Quantum Leap: The New Physics for NonscientistsWorld renowned physicist Fred Alan Wolf explains the scientific concepts of quantum mechanics in accessible language for nonscientists. Winner of the National Book Award Taking the Quantum Leap entertainingly traces the history of physics from the observations of the early Greeks through the discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the dazzling theories of such scientists as Planck, Einstein, Bohr, and Bohm. This humanized view of science opens up the mind-stretching visions of how quantum mechanics, God, human thought, and will are related, and provides profound implications for our understanding of the nature of reality and our relationship to the cosmos. “The prose, indeed, is exhilarating, and exhibits a passion to explain—humorously . . . Wolf provides commendable explanations of visions and revisions of atomic models; he is fin, in particular, on the Uncertainty Principle . . . Enjoy the book for its bravura.” —Kirkus Reviews |
Contents
Aristotles Attempt to Resolve Zenos Paradoxes | |
The First Active Observer | |
An Explanation of Light and Heat with Something Missing | |
The Ultraviolet Catastrophe | |
Throwing Stones in a Quantum Pond | |
Bohrs Quantum Atom | |
A Prince Imagines a Wave | |
The Case of the Missing Universe | |
Faster Than a Speeding Photon | |
Breaking the Unbroken Whole | |
Entangling Qwiffs | |
Separate Houses with a Common Basement | |
Consciousness and Parallel Universes | |
Human Will and Human Consciousness | |
Are Atoms Conscious? | |
No One Has Seen the Wind | |
Resistance to Uncertainty | |
Complements of the Cosmic House | |
The Magicians Choice | |
New Ideas in Quantum Physics | |
Wheelers Choice | |
Bibliography | |
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Common terms and phrases
act of observation angular momentum appears atomic minds aware ball Böhm Bohr Bohr's Broglie called Chapter choice choose classical colors complementarity concept consciousness continuous correlation created determined discontinuous discovery Einstein electron emitted energy EPR paradox example exist experience explain Feynman frequency gate heat Heisenberg hidden variables Ibid idea imagine infinite number instant interaction Interpretation of Quantum jump laws light waves look machine mathematical matter measure molecule motion movement moving neuron Newton Newtonian object orbit paradoxical cube parallel universes parallel worlds particle path perhaps photon Physical Review physicists picture Planck Planck’s constant position possible predict produced pulse quantum computer quantum mechanics quantum physics Quantum Theory quantum wave qwiff qwiff pop reality Schroedinger Schroedinger's scientists screen slits space speed things thought tiny transactional interpretation uncertainty principle wave function wave-particle duality wavelength whole Wigner Wigner's friend words York Zeno Zeno's