万物简史 第158期:爱因斯坦的宇宙(1)
英语课
Part III A New Age Dawns
第三部 一个新时代的黎明
A Physicist 1 is the atoms’ way of thinking about atoms. -Anonymous
物理学家就是以原子的方式来考虑原子的人。——无名氏
8 Einstein’s Universe
第八章 爱因斯坦的宇宙
As The Nineteenth century drew to a close, scientists could reflect with satisfaction that they had pinned down most of the mysteries of the physical world: electricity, magnetism 2, gases, optics, acoustics 3, kinetics, and statistical 4 mechanics, to name just a few, all had fallen into order before them. They had discovered the X ray, the cathode ray, the electron, and radioactivity, invented the ohm, the watt 5, the Kelvin, the joule, the amp, and the little erg.
随着19世纪渐渐远去，科学家们可以满意地回想，他们已经解开物理学的大部分谜团。我们略举数例：电学、磁学、气体学、光学、声学、动力学及统计力学，都已经在他们的面前俯首称臣。他们已经发现了X射线、阴极射线、电子和放射现象，发明了计量单位欧姆、瓦特、开尔文、焦耳、安培和小小的尔格。
爱因斯坦
If a thing could be oscillated, accelerated, perturbed 6, distilled 7, combined, weighed, or made gaseous 8 they had done it, and in the process produced a body of universal laws so weighty and majestic 9 that we still tend to write them out in capitals: the Electromagnetic Field Theory of Light, Richter’s Law of Reciprocal Proportions, Charles’s Law of Gases, the Law of Combining Volumes, the Zeroth Law, the Valence Concept, the Laws of Mass Actions, and others beyond counting. The whole world clanged and chuffed with the machinery 10 and instruments that their ingenuity 11 had produced. Many wise people believed that there was nothing much left for science to do.
凡是能被振荡的，能被加速的，能被干扰的，能被蒸馏的，能被化合的，能被称质量的，或能被变成气体的，他们都做到了；在此过程中，他们提出了一大堆普遍定律。这些定律非常重要，非常神气，直到今天我们还往往以大写来书写："光的电磁场理论"、"里氏互比定律"、"查理气体定律"、"体积结合定律"、"第零定律"、"原子价概念"、"质量作用定律"等等，多得数也数不清。整个世界丁丁当当、喀嚓喀嚓地回响着他们发明创造出来的机器和仪器的声音。许多聪明人认为，科学家们已经没有多少事可干了。
n.物理学家，研究物理学的人
- He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
- The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。
n.磁性，吸引力，磁学
- We know about magnetism by the way magnets act.我们通过磁铁的作用知道磁性是怎么一回事。
- His success showed his magnetism of courage and devotion.他的成功表现了他的胆量和热诚的魅力。
n.声学，(复)音响效果，音响装置
- The acoustics of the new concert hall are excellent.这座新音乐厅的音响效果极好。
- The auditorium has comfortable seating and modern acoustics.礼堂里有舒适的座椅和现代化的音响设备。
adj.统计的，统计学的
- He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.他用统计表显示价格的波动。
- They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。
n.瓦，瓦特
- The invention of the engine is creditable to Watt.发动机的发明归功于瓦特。
- The unit of power is watt.功率的单位是瓦特。
adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 )
- I am deeply perturbed by the alarming way the situation developing. 我对形势令人忧虑的发展深感不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Mother was much perturbed by my illness. 母亲为我的病甚感烦恼不安。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华
- The televised interview was distilled from 16 hours of film. 那次电视采访是从16个小时的影片中选出的精华。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Gasoline is distilled from crude oil. 汽油是从原油中提炼出来的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
adj.气体的，气态的
- Air whether in the gaseous or liquid state is a fluid.空气，无论是气态的或是液态的，都是一种流体。
- Freon exists both in liquid and gaseous states.氟利昂有液态和气态两种形态。
adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的
- In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
- He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。
n.(总称)机械，机器；机构
- Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
- Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
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