A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts

This book provides a chronological introduction to the sciences of astronomy and cosmology based on the reading and analysis of significant selections from classic texts, such as Ptolemy’s The Almagest, Kepler’s Epitome of Copernican Astronomy, Shapley’s Galaxies and Lemaître’s The Primeval Atom.

Each chapter begins with a short introduction followed by a reading selection. Carefully crafted study questions draw out key points in the text and focus the reader’s attention on the author’s methods, analysis, and conclusions. Numerical and observational exercises at the end of each chapter test the reader’s ability to understand and apply key concepts from the text.

The Heavens and the Earth is the first of four volumes in A Student’s Guide Through the Great Physics Texts. This book grew out of a four-semester undergraduate physics curriculum designed to encourage a critical and circumspect approach to natural science, while at the same time preparing students for advanced coursework in physics.

This book is particularly suitable as a college-level textbook for students of the natural sciences, history or philosophy. It also serves as a textbook for advanced high-school students, or as a thematically-organized source-book for scholars and motivated lay-readers. In studying the classic scientific texts included herein, the reader will be drawn toward a lifetime of contemplation.

• analysis of classics cosmology texts
• collection of major physics texts
• foundational science texts
• foundational texts in physics
• great physics texts
• history of science book
• history of science textbook
• important physicists
• important texts in physics
• introduction to Astronomy
• introduction to Cosmology
• physics and astronomy text
• physics history textbook
• science of motion
• significant developments in physics and astronomy

“Kuehn (Wisconsin Lutheran College) attempts to cover the gamut of knowledge discerned by astronomers and physicists over many centuries, ranging from the distant skies to the atom. … Kuehn then elaborates on crucial questions and provides students with exercises and a few experimental/observational activities. … Copious notes, good references, diagrams and illustrations. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates and researchers/faculty.” (N. Sadanand, Choice, Vol. 52 (9), May, 2015)

• Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, USA

  Kerry Kuehn

Kerry Kuehn is Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He is a member of the American Physical Society and an Advisory Council member for NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium and Fidelitas (WLC Honors Program).

He has designed and taught courses including "The Heavens and the Earth," "Space, Time and Motion," "Electricity, Magnetism and Light," and "Computerized Instrumentation and Design."

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