1.2. What Quarks, Spacetime, and the Big Bang Is

My aim is to help you appreciate two of the more exciting “fundamental” topics in physics: particle physics and cosmology. You’ll come to appreciate our current understanding of how our universe began and what open questions continue to motivate thousands of us around the world. Once we’ve passed through a gentle introduction to motion, collisions, electricity, and magnetism, the light-algebraic approach evolves into a more conceptual narrative where we tackle modern-day topics.

Note

I emphasize biography. We’ll meet intellectual giants whom everyone has heard of, but also our professional scientific heroes whose images are not on T-shirts. The history of physics and astronomy is full of unusual people—and a lot of just plain folks—and I’m eager for you to think of us without white coats and strange manners. We’re regular people who chose career paths that are a little outside of the mainstream. But we’re not so special except that we are privileged to be supported by the public in order to do our work.