Robert Osserman (1926–2011)

The clever Dr. Osserman engages us laymen in a basic cosmological discussion - the twist being his use of Dante's description of the universe. We get by and by to the hypersphere, in which the universe is expanding from the pre-big bang singularity, and we have the imaginary three-torus, which may go some way to allowing the universe to infinite time and finite space. Also, we learn that the curvature of space is very real and a useful tool for measuring relative positions, not something show more abstract or metaphysical.

Dr. Osserman describes a geocentric map, in which we put, say, San Francisco at the center, and all things lay at a distance from there, on a large circle. The outer rim of the circle, a large circumference, actually represents one point, the farthest point on Earth away from San Francisco. Dr. Osserman then compares this to a trumpet's horn on the way to defining and describing some of the relevant concepts.

We are led by short, simple steps to a rudimentary understanding of some of the abstruse math used to describe the universe. For some of us, that's as much as we can hope for. For anyone interested in gaining a first toehold on the math and physics of current cosmology, take this book up. It will not disappoint, even as it educates.

http://bassoprofundo1.blogspot.com/2010/07/poetry-of-universe-by-robert-osserman... show less

The book begins with vector basics as a natural launching point for the geometric focus. In the final chapters focusing on the double integral, this planar thinking will be especially enlightening for students nonplussed by centroids, moments, etc. Of course, the assessment of the area of a closed curve is the book’s introduction of the integral and this naturally leads to the double integral representing volume with appropriate illustrations continuing the geometric theme. This approach show more is comparable to that taken in An Introduction to Modern Calculus (Maak, 1963) which I feel is also worth a reprint edition. Each chapter concludes with exercises. For many of these, answers are provided in the back of the book. This is a self-contained work excellent for self-study or as an adjunct text for the undergraduate approaching this level of calculus.

[Look for my whole review to be posted at MAA Reviews: http://mathdl.maa.org/mathDL/19/] show less

[3.5/5] Osserman nos regala un viaje sobre los conceptos matemáticos detrás de la inmensa pregunta "¿qué es eso que llamamos universo y cómo se mide?". Gracias a sus analogías, es fácil digerir las partes más técnicas, aunque sí requiere una buena dosis de lecturas previas para seguirle el paso a gusto.

En mi opinión, aunque los capítulos individuales son buenos, no siempre están bien unidos unos a otros. Quizá funcionaria mejor como una serie de capítulos sobre divulgación show more general sobre matemáticas de las ciencias espaciales que como un solo tomo con un solo tema. A pesar de ello, es ameno y se lee sin problemas en unas horas. show less

Indeholder "Forord", "Indledning", "1. Det umålelige måles", "2. Jorden omsluttes", "3. Den virkelige verden", "4. Imaginære verdener", "5. Det krumme rum", "6. Det usynlige univers", "7. Tilbageblik: Det observerbare univers", "8. En ny dimension", "9. En galakse af former", "Efterskrift", "Tak", "Noter", "Register".

"Forord" handler om 1992-billedet af variationen i den kosmiske mikrobølgestråling - NASA.
"Indledning" handler om at lave tankebilleder, så læseren kan bevæge sig frit show more rundt i den krumme rumtid.
"1. Det umålelige måles" handler om Pythagora, Euklid, Jordens kugleform og størrelse.
"2. Jorden omsluttes" handler om ???
"3. Den virkelige verden" handler om ???
"4. Imaginære verdener" handler om ???
"5. Det krumme rum" handler om ???
"6. Det usynlige univers" handler om ???
"7. Tilbageblik: Det observerbare univers" handler om ???
"8. En ny dimension" handler om ???
"9. En galakse af former" handler om ???
"Efterskrift" handler om fysik og matematiks sammenflettethed med et vip med hatten til Richard Feynman.
"Tak" handler om alle dem, der har hjulpet forfatteren under skriveprocessen.
"Noter" gemmer på mange formler og tal og henvisninger - ganske nyttigt.
"Register" er et udmærket opslagsregister.

??? show less