The New Way Things Work
David Macaulay
Houghton Mifflin Co.
ISBN 0-395-93847-3 |
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This is the required text for the class.
(There is also a CD-ROM.)
Exceptionally well presented, but
lacks questions and answers. Restricted to
man-made devices, with little
discussion of the environment or the natural world,
i.e. the universe,
stars, elements, nuclei, materials crystals,atmospheres,etc.
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How Things Work
The Physics of Everyday Life
Louis A. Bloomfield
John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 0-471-59473-3 |
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This is an alternative text for the course. Same topics as our text,
in nearly the same order. Far more details, and hence very
long and slow moving. Lots of questions and answers, and some equations.
Not enough explanatory sketches.
This book is $24.50 from
www.amazon.com
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The following books cover all of physics:
Fear of Physics
Lawrence M. Krauss
Basic Books Div. of Harper Collins
ISBN 0-465-02367-3 |
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Many superb discussion of how physicists think and view the universe.
Full of advice that will help you understand many topics.
This book is $12.50 from
www.amazon.com
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Instant Physics
Tony Rothman, Ph.D
Byron Preiss Visual Publ. Inc.
ISBN 449-90697-3 |
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A quick summary of all of physics. the first half, to page 114, covers
the topics of this course, but from the formal physics perspective. Lots
of algebraic equations, and no mention of devices.
This book is $10.95 from
www.amazon.com
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The Cartoon Guide to Physics
Larry Gonick & Art Huffman
Harper Perennial
ISBN 0-06-463618-6 |
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A simple, quick summary of the concepts of mechanics, electricity and
magnetism, but no devices. An easy read, and hence a good starter, or
review text.
This book is $15.00 from
www.amazon.com
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Physics Over Easy
Leonid V. Azaroff
World Scientific Co. Pte. Ltd.
ISBN 981-02-2367-6 |
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Presents conversations about all of physics. No index, hence not useful
as a reference.
This book is $18.00 from
www.amazon.com
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The following books cover all of science:
A Brief History of Science
John Gribbin
Barnes & Noble Inc.
ISBN 0-7607-1183-6 |
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Colorful and an easy read. The 36 pages on physics give a good
introduction
to the subject.
This book is $19.95 from
www.bn.com
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The Science Glass You Wish You Had . . .
David Eliot Brody & Arnold R. Brody, Ph.D.
Perigee Book published by The Berkley Publ. Group
ISBN 0-399-52313-8 |
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An excellent, compact, summary of the major results in 7 areas of science.
This book is $14.00 from
www.amazon.com
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The following books cover only parts of our course:
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Travels to the Nanoworld
Miniature Machinery in Nature and Technology
Michael Gross
Plenum Trade Div. of Plenum Pub. Corp.
ISBN 0-306-46008-4 |
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Important topics for the future in here: biotechnology and nanotechnology.
This book is $23.35 from
www.amazon.com
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Energy A Guidebook
Janet Ramage
Oxford University Press
ISBN 0-19-288022-5 |
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A summary of global energy sources and demand. Long -- 394pp, but easy
and relevant.
This book is $17.95 from
www.amazon.com
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Why Things Are the Way They Are
B. S. Chandrasekhar
Cambridge University Press
ISBN 0-521-45039-x |
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This book, which covers only atoms arranged in solid materials starts
at the basics, but goes beyond the level of this course.
This book is $24.95 from
www.amazon.com
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Physics in the 20th Century
Curt Suplee
Judy R. Franz & John S. Rigden, Editors
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. with APS & AIP
ISBN 0-8109-4364-6 |
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Colorful coffee table book, which emphasizes major physics experiments, not
everyday devices.
This book is $49.50 from
www.amazon.com
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Books on Reserve
