1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910373933603321

Autore

Malik Karim A

Titolo

How Cosmologists Explain the Universe to Friends and Family / / by Karim A. Malik, David R. Matravers

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2019

ISBN

3-030-32734-5

Edizione

[1st ed. 2019.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XIV, 258 p. 77 illus., 65 illus. in color.)

Collana

Astronomers' Universe, , 1614-659X

Disciplina

520

Soggetti

Astronomy

Cosmology

Popular Science in Astronomy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Preface -- Introduction -- How does science work? -- What observations do we use? -- What do we observe? -- What is the universe made of? -- What are the forces that shape the universe? -- How does the structure in the universe form? -- Going Back in Time -- How did it all begin?. What lies beyond? -- What didn’t fit – more technical and side issues  -- Glossary.

Sommario/riassunto

This fascinating book provides an accessible and up-to-date overview of modern cosmology. In particular, the book discusses the formation of the Cosmic Microwave Background and the evolution of large scale structures in the universe, the distribution of galaxies and clusters of galaxies on very large distance scales. Following a brief introduction, the authors describe the scientific method – how science is done. They then discuss observational cosmology, the instruments and what observations can be done with them, and what is derived from those observations. After discussing the constituents of the universe, including dark matter and dark energy, the authors provide an outline of the forces that shape the universe, with particular emphasis on gravitation. Following this, the reader is taken on a journey in time from the present day back to the very beginning of the universe, a period called inflation, which sets the initial conditions for the subsequent evolution of the universe. The book ends with a brief



chapter on what lies beyond. Written by two experts, the book is aimed at the interested lay-person with little or no physics background, but an interest in modern cosmology.