The Physics of the Impossible

The Physics of the Impossible

Overview

       The Physics of the Impossible entails, not surprisingly, the physics of the impossible. The book is divided into three main parts respecting the three classes of impossibilities. The first level is a Class I impossibility, which means that the task has a good possibility to be accomplished in 100 years. An example of a Class I impossibility is creating a force field because we cannot do it today but in 100 years we may be able to. The second level is a Class II impossibility, which means it would take a very advanced civilization to accomplish the task. An example of a class II impossibility is time travel, because using quantum mechanics it is possible, just very unfeasible. The third level is a class III impossibility, which entails tasks that can not be accomplished with our current understanding of physics. An example of a Class III impossibility is a perpetual motion machine, because it violates the second law of thermodynamics, making it impossible using our current understanding of physics, and still extremely difficult if physics allowed it.

Book Cover

        I would rate the book an 8/10 because it had great content, but some of it felt like it was dragged out for longer than it needed to be. The book stated its claims and backed them up with evidence, moving logically from one topic to the another. I would highly recommend this book for people who are interested in physics, theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics who have limited prior knowledge. I also love the formatting in the book, because it transitions from broader topics to more complex insights into the topic. All in all I highly recommend this book for everyone interested in science fiction and/or physics.

About the author

       Dr. Michio Kaku works as a professor of theoretical physics at the City College of New York. He was born on January 24th 1947, making him currently 68 years old. He has a Phd. in physics from Berkeley College and currently holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York. He has also written several physics textbooks and a few books about physics and the ways they work.

Dr. Michio Kaku