The Physics of Everyday Things

March 27, 2017
In his latest work of pop physics, Kakalios, professor of physics at the University of Minnesota, eschews the jokes and banter of The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics, diving right into his explanations of objects and phenomena that Westerners encounter in their daily routines. Kakalios takes his title literally, following a bachelor businessman subject as he moves through his day. The author pauses regularly to explain the physics behind the innumerable tools, devices, and machines upon which his subject depends. A morning smartphone alarm and the smell of brewing coffee launch a discussion of the elegant physics of the pendulum, which underlies all timers and whose periodic oscillations illustrate the simplest of many universal phenomena, including the conservation of energy and electric power generation. Over the course of the day, readers will encounter no math, little cuteness, and only half a dozen charts. Many explanations, such as the basics of the LED TV, may require multiple rereads for full comprehension. Kakalios achieves more success with his elucidations of the familiar refrigerator and copier machine than he does with microelectronics. Readers will enjoy lucid explanations of dazzling yet quotidian technology, and those who remember a bit of high school–level science may appreciate them even more. Agent: Jay Mandel, WME.

March 15, 2017
A renowned physicist and science popularizer explains the principles underlying technologies that comprise the modern mundane.In a chronological series of brief and accessible chapters--titled, for example, -You Begin Your Day,- -You Drive into the City,- -You Go to the Airport---Kakalios (Physics/Univ. of Minnesota; The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science that Made Our World, 2010, etc.), author of the bestselling The Physics of Superheroes (2005), walks readers through the many scientific interactions that take place in a typical day, even if we don't see them. From waking to the aroma of coffee brewed on a timer to relaxing in front of a flat-screen TV before bed, most people rely on the basic laws of physics almost incessantly: basic concepts such as the principle of conservation of energy and the relationship between electricity and magnetism power an incredible number of machines and devices. Some of these, such as elevators and credit cards, make life more convenient and efficient. Others, such as X-rays and MRI scans, routinely save lives. Relying on a mix of narrative storytelling and straightforward science writing, the author adeptly connects our everyday experiences with some of the most fascinating behaviors of atoms and molecules. He does so without relying on esoteric vocabulary, making this a book that readers of many ages can enjoy. (We can only hope that one day we will see flying cars, the possibility of which is discussed in the last chapter.) From start to finish, this is a fun and comprehensive introduction to many of the forces that govern how we interact with each other and the world around us. Rudimentary drawings illustrate some of the concepts. Once again, Kakalios makes physics relatable, this time demonstrating how profoundly its principles enable our way of life.

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April 1, 2017
No one will ever mistake the bedroom, kitchen, highway, or business office for the physics laboratory. But because physics informs his vision, Kakalios discerns in such ordinary places extraordinary lessons in the scientific laws that explain the devices, vehicles, and technologies we rely on daily. When scientifically interrogated, even relatively simple mechanisms (a pendulum clock, an elevator) yield surprising insights into the dynamics of matter and energy. And when he turns his attention to more complex technology (the touch screen of an ATM kiosk, the television remote control), Kakalios teases out more profound principles of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. Writing in the accessible style that made his The Physics of Superheroes (2005) a reader favorite, Kakalios illuminates scientific precepts with few technical terms and almost no mathematics. Sure to awaken in readers a new awareness of science operating beneath familiar surfaces, this analysis also opens a historical perspective on the inventions that have reshaped the worldonce dependent on little-understood steam engines, now exploiting ingeniously engineered semiconductors. A fascinating inquiry exposing hidden science.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)