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{{ | '''''Physics of the Impossible''': A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel'' is a 2008 book by [[physics|physicist]] [[Michio Kaku]], who has a [[Ph.D.]] in [[theoretical physics]]. Kaku uses discussion of speculative technologies to educate the reader in lessons of fundamental [[physics]]. The topic of invisibility becomes a discussion on the reason the [[speed of light]] is slower in water than a vacuum, that [[electromagnetism]] occurs in waves like ripples on a pond, and a discussion on the use of newly-developed [[composite material]]s. The topic of hand-held lasers, or [[Star Trek]] “phasers”, become lessons on how today’s [[laser]]s work and how the current research in the technology is done. With each discussion of science fiction technology topics he also “explains the hurdles to realizing these [[science fiction]] concepts as reality."<ref name="NYT" >{{cite journal | ||
|journal=New York Times | |||
{{ | |title=Paper Cuts : Why Don’t We Invent It Tomorrow? | ||
|url=http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/why-dont-we-invent-it-tomorrow/ | |||
}}</ref><ref name="urlPhysics Book Review - Physics of the Impossible - a review of Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku">{{cite web |url=http://physics.about.com/od/physicsbooks/gr/impossphysics.htm |title=Physics Book Review - Physics of the Impossible - a review of Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku |format= |work= |accessdate=2009-06-03}}</ref> | |||
==Contents== | |||
Each chapter states the technology mentioned and how it might become a reality, although chapters become somewhat more general towards the end of the book due to lack of research. Some of the technologies mentioned are explained as per a slightly altered form, which remains as true to the original concept as possible while remaining practical.<ref>"Kaku, Physics of the Impossible", Preface p. xvii</ref> Kaku concludes his book with a short epilogue detailing the newest frontiers in physics and how there is still much more to be learned about physics and our universe.<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible" >{{cite book | |||
<ref> | |last=Kaku |first=Michio | ||
|title=Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel | |||
|location=New York | |||
|publisher=Doubleday | |||
|year=2008 | |||
|ref=Kaku, Physics of the Impossible | |||
|isbn=978-0-385-52069-0 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
== | ==The Concept of Impossibility== | ||
According to Kaku, 150 years ago, technological advances that we take for granted today were declared impossible. [[Lord Kelvin|William Thomson Kelvin]] (1824 – 1907) , a [[mathematical physicist]] and inventor of the [[Kelvin scale]] said publicly that “heavier than air” machines were impossible. “He thought [[X-rays]] were a hoax, and that [[radio]] had no future.”<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref" >[[#Kaku, Physics of the Impossible|Kaku, Physics of the Impossible]], Preface pp. x - xiii</ref> | |||
[[Ernest Rutherford]] (1871 – 1937), a physicist who experimentally described the atom, thought the [[atom bomb]] was impossible and he compared it to [[moonshine]]. Televisions, computers, and the [[internet]] would seem incredibly fantastic to the people of the turn of the [[20th century]]. Black holes were considered science fiction and even [[Einstein]] showed that [[black holes]] could not exist. [[19th century]] science had determined that it was impossible for [[Age of the Earth|the earth to be billions of years old]]. Even in the [[1920]]’s and 1930’s [[Robert Goddard]] was scoffed at because it was believed that rockets would never be able to [[Space exploration|go into space]].<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref" /> | |||
Such advances were considered impossible because the basic laws of physics and science were not understood as they are understood today. Kaku states that “as a physicist [he] learned that the impossible is often a relative term.” By this definition of "impossible," he poses the question – is it not plausible to think that we might someday build space ships that can travel distances of [[light years]], or think that we might [[teleport]] ourselves from one place to the other?<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref" /> | |||
== | ==Physical limits of technology== | ||
Kaku writes that since scientists understand the basic laws of [[physics]] today they are able to | Kaku writes that since scientists understand the basic laws of [[physics]] today they are able to perceive or imagine a basic outline of [[Futurology|future technologies]] that might work. Kaku writes: "Physicists today understand the basic laws [of physics] extending over a staggering forty three orders of magnitude, from the interior of the proton out to the expanding universe."<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref xviii" >[[#Kaku, Physics of the Impossible|Kaku, Physics of the Impossible]], Preface p.xviii</ref> | ||
He goes on to say that physicists can discern between future technologies that are merely improbable and those technologies that are truly impossible. He uses a system of Class I, Class II, and Class III to classify these science-fictional future technologies that are believed to be impossible today: | He goes on to say that physicists can discern between future technologies that are merely improbable and those technologies that are truly impossible. He uses a system of Class I, Class II, and Class III to classify these science-fictional future technologies that are believed to be impossible today: | ||
*Class I Impossibilities | *Class I Impossibilities are "technologies that are impossible today, but that do not violate the known laws of physics." Kaku speculates that these technologies may become available in some limited form in a century or two.<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref xviii" /> | ||
*Class II Impossibilities “technologies that sit at the very edge of our understanding of the physical world | *Class II Impossibilities are “technologies that sit at the very edge of our understanding of the physical world," possibly taking thousands or millions of years to become available.<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref xvii" >[[#Kaku, Physics of the Impossible|Kaku, Physics of the Impossible]], Preface p.xvii</ref> | ||
*Class III Impossibilities “technologies that violate the known laws of physics. | *Class III Impossibilities are “technologies that violate the known laws of physics." Kaku only lists a few of these. Development of these technologies would represent a fundamental shift in human understanding of physics.<ref name="Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, pref xvii" /><ref name="urlPhysics of the Impossible, By Michio Kaku - Reviews, Books - The Independent">{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/physics-of-the-impossible-by-michio-kaku-859665.html |title=Physics of the Impossible, By Michio Kaku - Reviews, Books - The Independent |format= |work= |accessdate=2009-06-03}}</ref> | ||
== | == See also == | ||
* [[The Physics of Star Trek]], a similar book by the physicist [[Lawrence M. Krauss]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.mkaku.org/ Kaku's personal website] | *[http://www.mkaku.org/ Kaku's personal website] | ||
*[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/physics-of-the-impossible-by-michio-kaku-859665.html Review in The Independent] | |||
*[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726452.200-review-iphysics-of-the-impossiblei-by-michio-kaku.html Review in NewScientist.com] | |||
[[Category:2008 books]] | [[Category:2008 books]] | ||
[[Category:Popular science books]] | [[Category:Popular science books]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:35, 24 November 2009
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel is a 2008 book by physicist Michio Kaku, who has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics. Kaku uses discussion of speculative technologies to educate the reader in lessons of fundamental physics. The topic of invisibility becomes a discussion on the reason the speed of light is slower in water than a vacuum, that electromagnetism occurs in waves like ripples on a pond, and a discussion on the use of newly-developed composite materials. The topic of hand-held lasers, or Star Trek “phasers”, become lessons on how today’s lasers work and how the current research in the technology is done. With each discussion of science fiction technology topics he also “explains the hurdles to realizing these science fiction concepts as reality."[1][2]
Contents
Each chapter states the technology mentioned and how it might become a reality, although chapters become somewhat more general towards the end of the book due to lack of research. Some of the technologies mentioned are explained as per a slightly altered form, which remains as true to the original concept as possible while remaining practical.[3] Kaku concludes his book with a short epilogue detailing the newest frontiers in physics and how there is still much more to be learned about physics and our universe.[4]
The Concept of Impossibility
According to Kaku, 150 years ago, technological advances that we take for granted today were declared impossible. William Thomson Kelvin (1824 – 1907) , a mathematical physicist and inventor of the Kelvin scale said publicly that “heavier than air” machines were impossible. “He thought X-rays were a hoax, and that radio had no future.”[5] Ernest Rutherford (1871 – 1937), a physicist who experimentally described the atom, thought the atom bomb was impossible and he compared it to moonshine. Televisions, computers, and the internet would seem incredibly fantastic to the people of the turn of the 20th century. Black holes were considered science fiction and even Einstein showed that black holes could not exist. 19th century science had determined that it was impossible for the earth to be billions of years old. Even in the 1920’s and 1930’s Robert Goddard was scoffed at because it was believed that rockets would never be able to go into space.[5] Such advances were considered impossible because the basic laws of physics and science were not understood as they are understood today. Kaku states that “as a physicist [he] learned that the impossible is often a relative term.” By this definition of "impossible," he poses the question – is it not plausible to think that we might someday build space ships that can travel distances of light years, or think that we might teleport ourselves from one place to the other?[5]
Physical limits of technology
Kaku writes that since scientists understand the basic laws of physics today they are able to perceive or imagine a basic outline of future technologies that might work. Kaku writes: "Physicists today understand the basic laws [of physics] extending over a staggering forty three orders of magnitude, from the interior of the proton out to the expanding universe."[6] He goes on to say that physicists can discern between future technologies that are merely improbable and those technologies that are truly impossible. He uses a system of Class I, Class II, and Class III to classify these science-fictional future technologies that are believed to be impossible today:
- Class I Impossibilities are "technologies that are impossible today, but that do not violate the known laws of physics." Kaku speculates that these technologies may become available in some limited form in a century or two.[6]
- Class II Impossibilities are “technologies that sit at the very edge of our understanding of the physical world," possibly taking thousands or millions of years to become available.[7]
- Class III Impossibilities are “technologies that violate the known laws of physics." Kaku only lists a few of these. Development of these technologies would represent a fundamental shift in human understanding of physics.[7][8]
See also
- The Physics of Star Trek, a similar book by the physicist Lawrence M. Krauss
References
- ↑ "Paper Cuts : Why Don’t We Invent It Tomorrow?". New York Times. http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/why-dont-we-invent-it-tomorrow/.
- ↑ "Physics Book Review - Physics of the Impossible - a review of Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku". http://physics.about.com/od/physicsbooks/gr/impossphysics.htm. Retrieved on 2009-06-03.
- ↑ "Kaku, Physics of the Impossible", Preface p. xvii
- ↑ Kaku, Michio (2008). Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-52069-0.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, Preface pp. x - xiii
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, Preface p.xviii
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kaku, Physics of the Impossible, Preface p.xvii
- ↑ "Physics of the Impossible, By Michio Kaku - Reviews, Books - The Independent". http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/physics-of-the-impossible-by-michio-kaku-859665.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-03.