The flying circus of physics

More about the book

Throughout his career as a lecturer and popularizer of physics, Jearl Walker has gathered numerous examples, experiments, and curiosities that illustrate that "physics is everywhere." This book contains a variety of stories and facts that demonstrate how many phenomena can be explained through the principles of physics. It is divided into seven sections covering motion, fluids, sound, heat, electricity, magnetism, optics, and vision. The book features hundreds of short narratives that consist of discussions, questions for the reader, and concise answers. Examples explore diverse topics such as igniting fire with ice, the green sky before a tornado, electric eels, wet sand, mirages, twinkling stars, and driving a car on the ceiling. These stories also relate to sports, building disasters, music, acoustics, atmospheric phenomena, and optical illusions. The strength of the book lies in the richness of the collected examples and their engaging and witty presentation, making it appealing to both students and those familiar with the basics of physics.