Author Description

A concise, exciting introduction to cosmology with an emphasis on the basic principles. It is unique from the standpoint of clarity and simplicity of explanations using the application of mechanics, thermodynamics and particle physics to questions on the universe as a whole. It advances to include an emphasis on general equations of state, unifying the treatment of dust, radiation, cosmological constant, or exotic components, the treatment of inhomogeneities ("clumpy universe") and their important effects on observations.