Discover the undiscovered with this jargon-free introduction to astrophysics
Astronomy is the study of what you see in the sky. Physics is the study of how things work. Astrophysics is the study of how things in the sky work, from large objects to tiny particles. Astrophysics For Dummies breaks it all down for you, making this difficult but fascinating topic accessible to anyone. Tracking the topics covered in a typical undergraduate astrophysics class, this book will teach you the essential pieces to understanding our universe. Get ready to launch into outer space with this ever-changing branch of science.
Discover the latest advances in the world of astrophysics
Understand how and why galaxies form and evolve Find out the origins of cosmic rays Get a standalone primer on the science or supplement your astrophysics course
Students in introductory astrophysics courses and would-be astronomy buffs who want to better understand the mechanics of the universe will love Astrophysics For Dummies.
By:
Cynthia Phillips,
Shana Priwer
Imprint: For Dummies
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 188mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 590g
ISBN: 9781394235049
ISBN 10: 1394235046
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 12 April 2024
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Astrophysics 7 Chapter 1: Welcome to the Universe 9 Chapter 2: The A to Z of Physics 21 Chapter 3: Astronomy in a Nutshell 49 Chapter 4: Bridging the Gap Between Astronomy and Physics 65 Part 2: When You Wish Upon a 89 Chapter 5: Star Power: Hydrogen, Helium with a Twist of Nuclear Fusion 91 Chapter 6: Friends for Life: Star Systems and Dust Clouds 111 Chapter 7: Exoplanets: The Search for Earth 2.0 129 Chapter 8: White Dwarfs, Black Holes, and Neutrinos, Oh My! 153 Part 3: Galaxies: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work 171 Chapter 9: From Fuzzy Blobs to Majestic Spirals: The Milky Way and Other Galaxies 173 Chapter 10: Quantifying the Unknown, or How Galaxies Work 189 Chapter 11: Bigger Than Huge: Galaxy Clusters 207 Chapter 12: Weird and Wacky Galactic Phenomena 231 Part 4: Cosmology: The Beginning and the End of Everything 249 Chapter 13: The Big Bang: How It All Began 251 Chapter 14: First Light in the Universe, or How a Star is Born 273 Chapter 15: And Then It Gets Weirder: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Relativity 289 Chapter 16: The End of It All 313 Part 5: The Part of Tens 337 Chapter 17: Ten Scientists Who Paved the Way for Astrophysics 339 Chapter 18: Ten Important Space Missions for Astrophysics 345 Glossary 353 Index 359
Cynthia Phillips, PhD, is a scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Previously, she worked at the SETI Institute for 15 years. Shana Priwer is a technical writer who has co-authored many projects with Cynthia Phillips, including the Frameworks series on architecture.
