Helix books

3 total works

Six Not-so-easy Pieces

by Richard P Feynman

Published 17 March 1997

No twentieth-century American scientist is better known to a wider spectrum of people than Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988)--physicist, teacher, author, and cultural icon. His autobiographies and biographies have been read and enjoyed by millions of readers around the world, while his wit and eccentricities have made him the subject of TV specials and even a theatrical film.The spectacular reception of the book and audio versions of Feynman's Six Easy Pieces (published in 1995) resulted in a worldwide clamor for "More Feynman! More Feynman!" The outcome is these six additional lectures, drawn from the celebrated three-volume Lectures on Physics. Though slightly more challenging than the first six, these lectures are more focused, delving into the most revolutionary discovery in twentieth-century physics: Einstein's Theory of Relativity.No single breakthrough in twentieth-century physics (with the possible exception of quantum mechanics) changed our view of the world more than that of Einstein's discovery of relativity. The notions that the flow of time is not a constant, that the mass of an object depends on its velocity, and that the speed of light is a constant no matter what the motion of the observer, at first seemed shocking to scientists and laymen alike. But, as Feynman shows so clearly and so entertainingly in the lectures chosen for this volume, these crazy notions are no mere dry principles of physics, but are things of beauty and elegance. No one--not even Einstein himself--explained these difficult, anti-intuitive concepts more clearly, or with more verve and gusto, than Richard Feynman.

Lectures on Physics

by Richard P Feynman and etc.

Published 1 January 1963

This three-volume work was originally designed for a two-year introductory physics course given at the California Institute of Technology-a course designed to take advantage of students' increasing mathematical prowess and to provide a more comprehensive view of modern-day physics. The volumes are an edited version of Richard Feynman's lectures, taped and transcribed specifically for the books. It was a rigorous undertaking that resulted in a classic reference work for all physics students, teachers, and researchers. Feynman's effective classroom style remains intact in these volumes, a valuable work by a remarkable educator.

The three-volume commemorative issue is hardbound and packaged in a specially-designed slipcase. The lectures are also available in a student paperbound edition.

Six Easy Pieces

by Richard P Feynman

Published 20 November 1994

Designed for non-scientists, Six Easy Pieces is an unparalleled introduction to the world of physics by one of the greatest teachers of all time.. }Richard P. Feynman (19181988) was widely recognized as the most creative physicist of the postWorld War II period. His career was extraordinarily expansive. From his contributions to the development of the atomic bomb a Los Alamos during World War II to his work in quantum electrodynamics, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1965, Feynman was celebrated for his brilliant and irreverent approach to physics.It was Feynmans outrageous and scintillating method of teaching that earned him legendary status among students and professors of physics. From 19611963, Feynman, at the California Institute of Technology, delivered a series of lectures that revolutionized the teaching of physics around the world. Six Easy Pieces, taken from the famous Lectures on Physics, represents the most accessible material from this series. In these six chapters, Feynman introduces the general reader to the following topics: atoms, basic physics, the relationship of physics to other topics, energy, gravitation, and quantum force.
With his dazzling and inimitable wit, Feynman presents each discussion without equations or technical jargon.Readers will remember howusing ice water and rubberFeynman demonstrated with stunning simplicity to a nationally televised audience the physics of the 1986 Challenger disaster. It is precisely this abilitythe clear and direct illustration of complex theoriesthat made Richard Feynman one of the most distinguished educators in the world. Filled with wonderful examples and clever illustrations, Six Easy Pieces is the ideal introduction to the fundamentals of physics by one of the most admired and accessible scientists of our time. }