Wizards, Aliens, and Starships (eBook)

Physics and Math in Fantasy and Science Fiction

Charles L. Adler (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF | EPUB

2014
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-1-4008-4836-2 (ISBN)

Infos

Charles L. Adler is professor of physics at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

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Explaining the science behind science fiction and fantasy-from the probable to the impossibleFrom 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.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 2.2.2014
• Zusatzinfo: 23 line illus. 9 tables.
• Verlagsort: Princeton
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Anglistik / Amerikanistik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Literaturwissenschaft
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: acceleration • Albedo • Alpha Centauri • Angular momentum • Antimatter • Arthur C. Clarke • Astronomer • Astronomy • Atmosphere of Earth • Atmosphere of Mars • Atomic Nucleus • Calculation • centrifugal force • Circular Orbit • Cryogenics • Dyson Sphere • earth • Earth mass • Earth's orbit • escape velocity • exoplanet • Extraterrestrial Life • fantasy author • Freeman Dyson • fuel • Gas giant • Gasoline • Geosynchronous orbit • global warming • googol • Gravity • Greenhouse Gas • Hogwarts • Hot Jupiter • Hubble space telescope • Impact event • International Space Station • Interstellar Travel • Jupiter • Kardashev scale • Kepler's laws of planetary motion • kilogram • kinetic energy • Lagrangian point • Larry Niven • Literature • Low Earth Orbit • Main sequence • Mars Rover • Mass ratio • methane • Molecule • Neutron • neutron star • Newton's laws of motion • Orbit • Orbital eccentricity • Orbital mechanics • Orbital period • Orbital speed • Order of magnitude • payload • Photon • photosynthesis • physicist • planetary habitability • Planetary surface • Poul Anderson • power law • Propulsion • Quantity • quantum mechanics • Richard Feynman • Ringworld • room temperature • Science Fiction • Scientist • second law of thermodynamics • Semi-major and semi-minor axes • Solar mass • spacecraft • Space elevator • Spaceflight • space shuttle • space station • space tourism • Special relativity • Specific impulse • star maker • Star System • Surface Area • Technology • Temperature • Terraforming of Mars • Terrestrial planet • Theory of relativity • Tsiolkovsky rocket equation • Ursula K. Le Guin • Wavelength • year
• ISBN-10: 1-4008-4836-9 / 1400848369
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4008-4836-2 / 9781400848362