Some forces, such as the collision that sends a baseball flying away from a bat, are easy to observe; other forces, such as the one that gives a rocket its thrust, are more difficult to perceive. But all objects in motion obey laws, whether the object is a Ferris wheel, a tsunami in the ocean, or a person walking down the street. All objects in motion have energy, and storing up energy and converting it into motion is a common way of getting around. Doing this without using up all the world's energy or polluting the environment is a process in which an understanding of physics is essential....

Introduces the fundamental principles of electricity and magnetism and explores their widespread applications, from powering modern technology to driving much of the human body.

"Explores the physics of heat and temperature and their effects on people's lives and on technology. Also covers the principles of thermodynamics and how their application enables people to better understand the world and, sometimes, improve it"--P. [4] of cover.

An understanding of the science of light has led to ways of correcting faulty vision, and improving vision to study objects that are too small or too distant to be seen by the unaided eye. The performance of instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, and the human eye depends on the principles of optics. But even with recent technological advances, some mysteries remain. The nature of light has puzzled scientists for centuries, and just when they think they have it figured out, light does something completely unpredictable. "Light and Optics" explores the science of electromagnetic...

As our knowledge of matter grows, so too do the number of materials. Metals saw early uses as swords, coins, and later, in the building of airplanes. The 20th century witnessed several new materials: plastic that is versatile enough to find use in everything from containers to automobiles, fibers that are strong enough to make bullet-proof vests, and early houses made of wood or stone that gave way to the towering skyscrapers we see today. "Atoms and Materials" is a book about matter at its most basic level - atoms and their components - but it also explores how people use material in...

Nuclear physics investigates the properties and behavior of the central portion, or nucleus, of the atom. This branch of physics had perhaps the biggest impact on the world in the 20th century because it evolved into the knowledge used to build the most destructive weapons people have ever known. The atomic bombs that ended World War II, and the weapons race that followed, changed the course of history. But applications of nuclear physics have also provided enormous energy for useful purposes, generating about 16 percent of the world's electricity. "Particles and the Universe" documents how...