The Joy of Physics

Based on materials he developed for his own classes, the latest from author and retired professor Wiggins makes genuine fun out of rigorous science. Wiggins begins by introducing the why and how of physics's quest to understand the workings of the universe, keeping any off-putting math on the backburner; each subsequent chapter goes into detail regarding a particular aspect of physics, starting with motion and continuing through to quarks, quanta and quasars. Wiggins's friendly, stress-free approach will teach readers how to measure, observe and calculate, and he enriches his study with short history lessons and biographies of physics pioneers like Newton, Ohm, Tesla, Edison, Einstein and the eccentric and amazing Count Rumford. With the exception of chapters on nuclear and astrophysics, each chapter contains quick-and-easy experiments (and even quicker-and-easier ""experimentinos"") that can be done at home: throwing Frisbees, playing on teeter-totters, squashing soda bottles and investigating static cling. Clever cartoons by Sydney Harris and quotes from such worthies as Jeff Foxworthy provide laugh-out-loud moments, while the very human travails of pioneers like Tesla and Bernoulli remind us that life (and science) is seldom easy, even for geniuses. A welcome volume, Wiggins' gentle but thorough text could do much to quell perennial student bellyaching over introductory physics courses.