The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy / Edition 1

by Frank Shu

Overview

"This is a truly astonishing book, invaluable for anyone with an interest in astronomy and surely the bargain of the year." ---Physics Bulletin "Just the thing for a first year university science course." ---Nature "This is a beautiful book in both concept and execution." ---Sky & Telescope

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780935702057
Publisher:	University Science Books
Publication date:	01/17/1981
Series:	Astronomy Series
Edition description:	1982
Pages:	584
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Frank Shu is a Professor of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his PhD from Harvard University in 1968. Shu has written a number of expository articles for the lay public, and is the author of The Physics of Astrophysics, Volumes I and II. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Academia Sinica.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Basic Principles1. The Birth of Science2. Classical Mechanics, Light, and Astronomical Telescopes3. The Great Laws of Microscopic Physics4. The Great Laws of Macroscopic PhysicsPart II: The Stars5. The Sun as a Star6. Nuclear Energy and Synthesis of the Elements7. The End States of Stars8. Evolution of the Stars9. Star Clusters and the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram10. Binary StarsPart III: Galaxies and Cosmologyll.The Material Between the Stars12. Our Galaxy: The Milky Way System13. Quiet and Active Galaxies14. Clusters of Galaxies and the Expansion of the Universe15. Gravitation and Cosmology16. The Big Bang and the Creation of the Material WorldPart IV: The Solar System and Life17. The Solar System18. Origin of the Solar System19. The Nature of Life on Earth20. Life and Intelligence in the UniverseEpilogueAppendices

Editorial Reviews

This is a truly astonishing book, invaluable for anyone with an interest in astronomy and surely the bargain of the year.

Physics Bulletin

Just the thing for a first year university science course.

Nature

This is a beautiful book in both concept and execution.

Sky & Telescope

Just the thing for a first year university science course.

Nature Lib