Synopses & Reviews
During the past 200 years, astronomers and geologists have developed and tested several different theories about the origin of the solar system and the nature of the Earth. Together, the three volumes that comprise A History of Modern Planetary Physics present a survey of these theories. Nebulous Earth follows the development of Laplace's Nebular Hypothesis, its connection with ideas about the interior of the Earth, and its role in the establishment of the "evolutionary" worldview that dominated science in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Brush also explores Saturn's rings, Poincaré's contributions to ideas about cosmic evolution, the use of seismology to probe the earth's core, and explanations of the Earth's magnetic field. This series will interest historians and philosophers of science as well as earth scientists and geologists.
Review
"...a major work, large in scope and splendid in execution....This will be a standard work for a long time to come." Curtis Wilson, Physics Today"The three-volume A History of Modern Planetary Physics by Stephen G. Brush is a amjor work, large in scope and splendidin execution....Brush's account of many of the episodes is enhanced by his personal correspondence with the scientists involved....Brush's text...is workmanlike and probingly thoughtful. This will be a standard work for a long time to come." Physics Today"I recommend this work highly for those with interests in the history of geology or astronomy, the development of scientific ideas, or the role of the individual within the scientific community." Michael Thayer, Science Books and Films
Synopsis
Nebulous Earth, the first of three volumes making up A History of Modern Planetary Physics, follows the development of Laplace's Nebular Hypothesis, its connection with ideas about the interior of the Earth, and its role in the establishment of the 'evolutionary' worldview. Brush also explores theories about Saturn's rings, cosmic evolution, and the Earth's magnetic field.
Synopsis
Nebulous Earth follows the development of the nineteenth-century's most popular explanation for the origin of the solar system, Laplace's Nebular Hypothesis.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 237-299) and indexes.
Table of Contents
Part I. Nebular Birth and Heat Death: 1. Introduction; 2. The founders: Laplace and Herschel; 3. Followers and critics; 4. The Nebular Hypothesis and the evolutionary worldview; 5. Thermodynamics and the cooling earth; 6. Saturn's rings; 7. Revisions of the Nebular Hypothesis 1860-1885; 8. Poincaréand cosmic evolution; 9. The Nebular Hypothesis in the 20th Century; Part II. Inside the Earth: 10. Introduction; 11. 19th Century debates: solid, liquid, or gas?; 12. Discovery of the core; 13. Chemical history of the core; 14. Theories of geomagnetic secular variation.