Explores the mystery of planetary motion, based on the theories that came from famous scientists such as Newton, Archimedes, and Copernicus.

The Ballet of the Planets unravels the beautiful mystery of planetary motion, revealing how our understanding of astronomy evolved from Archimedes and Ptolemy to Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton. Mathematician Donald Benson shows that ancient theories of planetary motion were based on the assumptions that the Earth was the center of the universe and the planets moved in a uniform circular motion. Since ancient astronomers noted that occasionally a planet would exhibit retrograde motion--would seem to reverse its direction and move briefly westward--they concluded that the planets moved in epicyclic curves, circles with smaller interior loops, similar to the patterns of a child's Spirograph. With the coming of the Copernican revolution, the retrograde motion was seen to be apparent rather than real, leading to the idea that the planets moved in ellipses. This laid the ground for Newton's great achievement--integrating the concepts of astronomy and mechanics--which revealed not only how the planets moved, but also why. Throughout, Benson focuses on naked-eye astronomy, which makes it easy for the novice to grasp the work of these pioneers of astronomy.

"The Dance" by Various. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

Dava Sobel's The Glass Universe will be available from Viking in December 2016 With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Written in her characteristically graceful prose, The Planets is a stunningly original celebration of our solar system and offers a distinctive view of our place in the universe. * A New York Times extended bestseller * A Featured Alternate of the Book-of-the-Month Club, History Book Club, Scientific American Book Club, and Natural Science Book Club * Includes 11 full-color illustrations by artist Lynette R. Cook "[The Planets] lets us fall in love with the heavens all over again." -The New York Times Book Review "Playful . . . lyrical . . . a guided tour so imaginative that we forget we're being educated as we're being entertained." -Newsweek " [Sobel] has outdone her extraordinary talent for keeping readers enthralled. . . . Longitude and Galileo's Daughter were exciting enough, but The Planets has a charm of its own . . . . A splendid and enticing book." -San Francisco Chronicle "A sublime journey. [Sobel's] writing . . . is as bright as the sun and its thinking as star-studded as the cosmos." -The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "An incantatory serenade to the Solar System. Grade A-" -Entertainment Weekly "Like Sobel's [Longitude and Galileo's Daughter] . . . [The Planets] combines masterful storytelling with clear, engaging explanations of the essential scientific facts." -Physics World

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) is a pivotal figure in the birth of modern science, the astronomer who "stopped the sun and set the earth in motion." Born in Poland, educated at Cracow and then in Italy, he served all of his adult life as a church administrator. His vision of a sun-centered universe, shocking to many and unbelievable to most, turned out to be the essential blueprint for a physical understanding of celestial motions, thereby triggering what is commonly called "the Copernican revolution." A first edition of his world-changing treatise, De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, has most recently been auctioned for more than $2 million. In this book, leading historian of science Owen Gingerich sets Copernicus in the context of a rapidly changing world, where the recent invention of printing with moveable type not only made sources more readily available to him, but also fueled Martin's Luther's transformation of the religious landscape. In an era of geographical exploration and discovery, new ideas were replacing time-honored concepts about the extent of inhabited continents. Gingerich reveals Copernicus' heliocentric revolution as an aesthetic achievement not dictated by observational "proofs," but another new way of looking at the ancient cosmos. Deftly combining astronomy and history, this Very Short Introduction offers a fascinating portray of the man who launched the modern vision of the universe. Out of Gingerich's engaging biography emerges the image of a scientist, intellectual, patriot, and reformer, who lived in an era when political as well as religious beliefs were shifting.

You have a great pleasure waiting for you in this collection of essays, stories and reminiscences. The author has wide-ranging interests from such things as social issues and religion to the solar system and the psychology of the dreaming mind. His ideas will surprise and delight you and you will be intrigued by the unexpected slant he gives to old controversies as he searches for new answers. Humor is never far away. If he does fall into preaching in his discussions of economics and land use it is because he believes that a lack of attention to the forces at work are leading us toward disaster. In another mood which he labels Irish sentiment he tugs at our heart strings with his account of a simple thing like the death of a pet guinea pig. The selections are seldom longer than a few pages but the impact of each is to leave you with a satisfied feeling and the realization that you have something new to think about.

The Choreography of Antony Tudor: Focus on Four Ballets presents both an analytical overview of the ballets created for the stage by Antony Tudor and an in-depth critical analysis of four key works: Jardin aux Lilas (1936), Dark Elegies (1937), Pillar of Fire (1942), and The Leaves Are Fading (1975). Tudor was a British choreographer who spent a large part of his working life in the United States, and although he was not prolific in his output, his works include several masterpieces of twentieth-century ballet repertoire. Characteristic of his work is an exceptionally creative and sensitive relationship of choreography with music, a relationship different from that developed by his equally musical contemporary, George Balanchine, in that it privileges subtle layers of dramatic, often psychological, exposition as well as complex mythmical structures. Tudor's ballets invariably involve a psychological human dimension, even when there is no story as such, and it is these two strands - the musical and the dramatic - that the choreographer exploits with consummate skill in the best of his work.

In Richmond, no other name is more synonymous with dance than Elinor Fry. Helen Keller, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and author Tom Wolfe were just some of the people with whom Fry connected in five decades of dance. From 1920 to 1970, Fry was involved, often accompanied by her beloved students, in nearly every major public event in the River City. Performing in an array of venues and photographed twice by "National Geographic," Fry was a blend of creativity and business savvy and a wonderful role model for thousands of children who learned dance in her studio. Join author and historian Paul Herbert as he celebrates Elinor Fry's spirit and exceptional achievements in the world of dance in Richmond.

In the transcendent odyssey, "Soul's Symphony: Unveiling the Mysteries of Existence," Aria, guided by the Luminary Spirit, embarks on a celestial exploration that harmonizes the cosmic threads of existence. The narrative unfolds as Aria delves into the mystical revelations, uncovering the interconnected tapestry of celestial threads that compose the ethereal symphony of cosmic harmony. Throughout this soulful journey, Aria reflects on the existential mysteries, recognizing the transformative power of spiritual odyssey and the profound nature of her own existential reflection. The Luminary Spirit serves as a guide, helping her navigate the celestial landscapes and understand the cosmic dance that unfolds within the pages of her mystical narrative. The odyssey becomes a metaphor for the universal human experience—the recognition that, within the cosmic tapestry, Soul's Symphony holds the keys to unveiling the deeper mysteries of existence.

O Level Physics for Cambridge Students (2024 & 2025 Edition) This comprehensive guide is tailored for the latest Cambridge O Level syllabus. It covers: Mechanics: Motion, forces, energy, momentum Thermal Physics: Kinetic model, heat transfer Waves: Light, sound, reflection, refraction Electricity & Magnetism: Circuits, electromagnetism Nuclear Physics: Radioactivity, fission, fusion Space Physics: Earth, solar system, stars Features: Clear explanations & diagrams Real-world examples Exam-focused practice questions Empowering students to excel in their exams and appreciate the wonders of physics.