1.

Record Nr.

UNISA996466846703316

Autore

Cencini Massimo

Titolo

A random walk in physics : beyond black holes and time-travels / / Massimo Cencini [and three others]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham, Switzerland : , : Springer, , [2021]

©2021

ISBN

3-030-72531-6

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (220 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Disciplina

530

Soggetti

Physics

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Chapter 1 Introduction -- Chapter 2 Atoms, Irreversibility, Probability, Statistical Mechanics, Entropy -- Chapter 3 Probability, Entropy, Chaos -- Chapter 4 Chaos, Prediction -- Chapter 5 Prediction, Turbulence, Models -- Chapter 6 Models, Richardson -- Chapter 7 Boltzmann, Statistical Mechanics, Brownian Motion -- Chapter 8 Boltzmann, Atoms, Statistical Mechanics, Mesoscale Systems -- Chapter 9 Prediction: Chaos, Poincaré, Richardson, Models, Big data -- Chapter 10 Statistical Mechanics: Atoms, Boltzmann, Maxwell.

Sommario/riassunto

This book offers an informal, easy-to-understand account of topics in modern physics and mathematics. The focus is, in particular, on statistical mechanics, soft matter, probability, chaos, complexity, and models, as well as their interplay. The book features 28 key entries and it is carefully structured so as to allow readers to pursue different paths that reflect their interests and priorities, thereby avoiding an excessively systematic presentation that might stifle interest. While the majority of the entries concern specific topics and arguments, some relate to important protagonists of science, highlighting and explaining their contributions. Advanced mathematics is avoided, and formulas are introduced in only a few cases. The book is a user-friendly tool that nevertheless avoids scientific compromise. It is of interest to all who seek a better grasp of the world that surrounds us and of the ideas that have changed our perceptions.