–Ipshita Baruah
“ The increase of disorder on entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction of time”
Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time
Was there a beginning of time ? Could we go back in past or see the future? These are some questions that arise in every human mind and has been asking for centuries in their quest to understand the world.
As the title implies “ A brief history of time” tries to explain abstract concept about cosmology and physics and to give a succinct review of the challenging task of connecting the two revolutions – general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Special attention is paid to nature’s forces- gravity, electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces are related to one another. Time takes centre stage because it is a concept that has no meaning before our celestial genesis. Both space and time emerged at the instant of creation.
As at times it tries to explain basic concepts of modern physics in simple language and at other times it demands a familiarity with the same subject. May be that’s why this book tops the world list of “bought but not read” and is universally acclaimed as a work of genius.
Though this is a book of science for general public, with less knowledge in mathematics and science, but, sometimes it is not clear who are the actual target readers for this book. As at times it tries to explain basic concepts of modern physics in simple language and at other times it demands a familiarity with the same subject. May be that’s why this book tops the world list of “bought but not read” and is universally acclaimed as a work of genius.
Key ideas of the book
The main idea to take from this book is that time has a clear direction. Entropy is the idea that the universe moves from highly ordered states to less ordered state. For example – if you remove the lid of a bottle of perfume, and leave it off for a few days, the perfume will go from being highly ordered (all in the bottle) to highly disordered (all over the room).
Hawking uses this idea to explain why travelling back in time is impossible. It requires very little energy to knock a glass over and smash it – but think of how much energy it would take to make the glass jump back to the state prior to the breaking by placing all of the bits perfectly back to its earlier positions. It would be impossible– and that impossibility is what gives time it’s clear direction.
Though this book easily talks about the history of revolution, however, my biggest complaint about this book is his philosophical opinions. Obviously he is entitled to think as he works on the ultimate questions; but his assertion that his hypothesis of a finite world without beginning or end would leave no plane for God seems beside the point. The classic divide has not changed; some folks say there’s a power behind the stuff that had at least as much going for it as we do. That argument hasn’t changed with his theories. At one point in the book he claims that the late “John Paul II” gathered scientists that they mustn’t inquire into the God’s theory, which seems to be just plain false. J.P II was a flawed mortal to be sure, but he was no dope. It certainly sounds like someone hearing what the pope would say.
Though this isn’t the easiest book to read in the world and is probably the most bought science book of all time while also being the most likely tom gave up on after a chapter or two- but it is fascinating read all the same.
Ipshita Baruah is a fourth semester student of the Department of Physics, Debraj Roy College, Golaghat
Nicely focused on some important points in a subtle way. Thanks the young author for contributing your write up.