Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Recent discoveries in astronomy, especially those made with data collected by satellites such as the Cosmic Background Explorer and the Hubble Space Telescope, have brought the science of cosmology to the forefront of public interest. These new observations suggest the tantalizing possibility that the solutions to some of history's most elusive mysteries might be found in the near future, making modern cosmology a topic that holds special interest for scientists and nonscientists alike. Foundations of Modern Cosmology provides a highly accessible, thorough, and descriptive introduction to the historical development of and the physical basis for the modern big bang theory. This new textbook is ideal for electives that follow traditional introductory astronomy courses. It is intended to fill the gap between the many popular-level books, which can generally provide only a superficial treatment of the subject, and the advanced texts intended for students with strong backgrounds in physics and mathematics. The text is self-contained, appropriate for a one-semester course, and designed to be understandable to students with a grasp of elementary algebra. Emphasis is given to the scientific framework for cosmology, particularly the basic concepts of physics that underlie modern theories of relativity and cosmology; the importance of data and observations is stressed throughout. The text is divided into five major sections: historical background, a review of basic physics and astronomy, relativity, fundamental big bang theory, and current research areas, including structure formation, inflation, and quantum cosmology. Review questions, key terms, and an extensive glossary provide students with helpful study aids. In addition, the authors' website (http://astsun.astro.virginia.edu/~jh8h/Foundations) offers a wealth of supplemental information, including additional questions, references to other sources, and color NASA photographs.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 In the beginning
• 2 Cosmology becomes a science
• 3 Newton's machine
• 4 Lighting the worlds
• 5 The lives of the stars
• 6 Infinite space and absolute time
• 7 The special theory of relativity
• 8 The general theory of relativity
• 9 Black holes
• 10 The expanding universe
• 11 Modeling the universe
• 12 The early universe
• 13 Testing the models
• 14 A message from the big bang
• 15 Dark matter and large-scale structure
• 16 The inflationary universe
• 17 The edge of time
• A. Scientific notation
• B. Units
• C. Physical and astronomical constants

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Hawley and Holcomb convey a large amount of scientific culture in a single book designed (with suitable excisions) for students in a one-semester course on cosmology, from Aristotle to the latest ideas. Very little knowledge is assumed (terms like ion, electron, and nucleus are carefully introduced) and the mathematics is of the simplest type, but after a perfunctory and sometimes inaccurate historical introduction that made this reader fear the worst, students are expected to get to work. They are asked to assimilate an immense volume of facts and to grasp and absorb the arguments of general relativity well enough so that they can understand black holes, the big bang, inflation, and other concepts that are not at all simple. Covering so much material, the discussion is sketchy in spots; as an example, the account of stellar evolution does not make clear how much is based on observation and how much on theory, or how sure scientists are of the various processes described. If the instructor sets a high standard, undergraduates will learn much but will have to work hard. One wishes them luck. D. Park emeritus, Williams College

Author notes provided by Syndetics

John F.HawleyAssociate Professor of AstronomyUniversity of Virginia.