A History of Modern Planetary Physics: Fruitful Encounters

by Stephen G. Brush

Overview

The early twentieth century saw the replacement of the Nebular Hypothesis with the Chamberlin-Moulton theory that the solar system resulted from the encounter of the Sun with a passing star. Fruitful Encounters follows the eventual refutation of the encounter theory and the subsequent revival of a modernized Nebular Hypothesis. Professor Brush also discusses the role of findings from the Apollo space program, especially the analysis of lunar samples, culminating in the establishment of the "giant impact" theory of the Moon's origin in the 1980s.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521552141
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/26/1996
Series:	History of Modern Planetary Physics , #3
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.45(h) x 1.06(d)

Table of Contents

Illustrations; Preface; Part I. Planetesimals and Stelllar Encounters: 1. Introduction; 2. A geologist among astronomers: the Chamberlin-Moulton theory; 3. Jeans, Jeffreys and the decline of encounter theories; Part II. Nebular Rebirth and Stellar Death: 4. Introduction; 5. Methodology; 6. Nuclear cosmochronology and Hoyle's research programme; 7. Cameron's programme; 8. Isotopic anomalies and the supernova trigger; Part III. Planetogony and Plasma: 9. Safronov's programme; 10. The giant planets; 11. Chemical cosmogony: the terrestrial planets; 12. Alfvén's electromagnetic programme; Part IV. Whence the Moon?; 13. Introduction; 14. Early history of selenogony; 15. Harold Urey and the origin of the moon; 16. History of modern selenogony; Abbreviations; Reference list and citation index; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...a major work, large in scope and splendid in execution....This will be a standard work for a long time to come." Curtis Wilson, Physics Today

"The three-volume A History of Modern Planetary Physics by Stephen G. Brush is a amjor work, large in scope and splendidin execution....Brush's account of many of the episodes is enhanced by his personal correspondence with the scientists involved....Brush's text...is workmanlike and probingly thoughtful. This will be a standard work for a long time to come." Physics Today

"Fruitful Encounters is...an excellent reference for instructors presenting historical material on the origin of the solar system..." Arnold M. Heiser, Science Books & Films

From the Publisher

In the final volume of his three-volume set, Brush (history of science, U. of Maryland-College Park) traces the Chamberlin-Moulton theory that the Solar System resulted from an encounter with a passing star, from the early 20th century to its refutation in the 1930s, and describes the subsequent revival of the earlier nebular hypothesis informed by nuclear physics. He then looks at how lunar samples brought back by the Apollo space program launched a theory that the Moon was created by a collision between Earth and a Mars-size planet, and contains material from both. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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