Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos

By: Steven Pollock, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Steven Pollock

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Would you like to know how the universe works? Scientists have been asking that question for a long time and have found that many of the answers can be found in the study of particle physics, the field that focuses on those impossibly tiny particles with unbelievably strange names - the hadrons and leptons, baryons and mesons, muons and gluons - so mystifying to the rest of us.

And now, in a fascinating and accessible series of 24 lectures, you can take the mystery out of the remarkable field that in only 100 years has unlocked the secrets of the basic forces of nature.

Professor Pollock will make you familiar with the fundamental particles that make up all matter, from the tiniest microbe to the sun and stars. And you'll also learn the "rules of the game" - the forces that drive those particles and the ways in which they interact - that underlie the workings of the universe.

The lectures have been designed to be enriching for everyone, regardless of scientific background or mathematical ability. Virtually all you'll need as you enter this fascinating world are your curiosity, common sense, and, as Professor Pollock notes, "an open mind for the occasional quantum weirdness." As you move through the lectures, you'll also gain a knowledge of how those particles fit into perhaps the greatest scientific theory of all time: the Standard Model of particle physics; a grasp of key terms like "gauge symmetry," "quantum chromodynamics," and "unified quantum field Theory;" and an appreciation of how particle physics fits in with other branches of physics - including cosmology and quantum mechanics - to create our overall understanding of nature.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2003 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2003 The Great Courses

Heding

This is very interesting. I realy like the inclusion of the historical background being presented.

Pre 2007 information

Simplified presentation of rather complex particle physics with an understanding non scientific people can understand

For the rest of us

I have a fine brain thank you, but Particle Physics was gobbledegook to me. Your wonderful perspectives and voice were just the ticket for a romp into the mysteries of the tiny universe. Thank you!

awesome

love this lecture and the scientist that provided the knowledge. long but cohesive and interesting

Easily understood for a beginner great naation

I have listened to this a couple of times now, its easy to understand and the speaker is clear with his narration,

Fantastic explanation - needs updating

This is one of the best and clearest explanations of particle physics for non-physicists I’ve ever listened to (and I listen to many of these). Unfortunately, this is way out of date - pre-Higgs boson, for example - and would truly be improved by an updated version of this material. Please, Prof. Pollard, remake this set of lectures and bring them up to date!

Wonderful Introduction

I have always been interested in physics, but never had the opportunity to learn about all the buzz words I was hearing about on the news, or that were being casually mentioned in topics. This was the perfect course to introduce a learner to the concepts and theories behind Particle Physics.

Easy to understand.

Material was presented in a easy to understand and follow format and method. If you want to understand the world of particles and where we are and where we are going, get this book.

Awesome

Great teacher. Filled in a lot of the gaps in my knowledge. Very good for the curious novice. Thank you!

The best physics for laymen course so far!

Not having the time or money to pursue advanced level physics, I am still very interested in the topic. This is one of the best Great Courses I’ve listened to, and likely the one I would recommend to anyone interested in physics. Thank you Professor Pollock for such an outstanding lecture series.