The Physics of Everyday Things: The Extraordinary Science Behind an Ordinary Day

by James Kakalios Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross

Overview

Physics professor, bestselling author, and dynamic storyteller James Kakalios reveals the mind-bending science behind the seemingly basic things that keep our daily lives running, from our smart phones and digital “clouds” to x-ray machines and hybrid vehicles.
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Most of us are clueless when it comes to the physics that makes our modern world so convenient. What's the simple science behind motion sensors, touch screens, and toasters? How do we glide through tolls using an E-Z Pass, or find our way to new places using GPS?* In*The Physics of Everyday Things, James Kakalios takes us on an amazing journey into the subatomic marvels that underlie so much of what we use and take for granted.
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Breaking down the world of things into a single day, Kakalios engages our curiosity about how our refrigerators keep food cool, how a plane manages to remain airborne, and how our wrist fitness monitors keep track of our steps. Each explanation is coupled with a story revealing the interplay of the astonishing invisible forces that surround us. Through this “narrative physics,” The Physics of Everyday Things demonstrates that-far from the abstractions conjured by terms like the Higgs Boson, black holes, and gravity waves-sophisticated science is also quite practical. With his signature clarity and inventiveness, Kakalios*ignites our imaginations and*enthralls us with the principles that make up our lives.

Editorial Reviews

JULY 2017 - AudioFile

You may think you're just turning on a coffeemaker, inserting your credit card, dialing up a website, or submitting to an airport scan, but, according to author James Kakalios, what you're really doing is unleashing, displacing, or converting energy according to principles of physics. Who knew, for example, that Einstein's theory of relativity is applied every time you use your GPS device or that a modern cable elevator will not crash even if all the cables are cut. Narrator Jonathan Todd Ross manages to combine storytelling skills with the strengths of a science lecturer, making this audiobook accessible to most listeners. However, just as it was in high school physics class, some people will quickly grasp the basic concepts while others will require more time to digest the many theorems and processes—so prepare to hit the rewind button. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

03/27/2017
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. (May)

From the Publisher

[A] vivid compendium of digestible science lessons…The pages constantly generate a pleasurable ‘Aha!’ at the connections the author reveals.” –Wall Street Journal

“Forget what people say, learning is cool. And The Physics of Everyday Things will have plenty to teach you... When you’re done, you can wow your friends the next time you meet them for drinks with your knowledge of how credit cards work.” –Stuff.tv

“Kakalios does a commendable job of recognizing the ways in which physics manifests itself in seemingly mundane objects and injects his own enthusiasm for the subject into his writing. And even when he addresses subject matter that appears to be well-trodden territory, he is able to bring a fresh perspective. . . . The Physics of Everyday Things is a welcome addition to any bookshelf: the engaging writing style is perfect for the casual physics enthusiast and the examples discussed will prove valuable to those who discuss physics with non-specialists.” –Physics World

“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.” –Publishers Weekly

“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...Once again, Kakalios makes physics relatable, this time demonstrating how profoundly its principles enable our way of life.” –Kirkus Reviews 

“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 world—once dependent on little-understood steam engines, now exploiting ingeniously engineered semiconductors. A fascinating inquiry exposing hidden science.” –Booklist

“The clever format, following a person through a typical day (which includes air travel, hotel stays, and a business presentation), brings order to the mammoth topic of physics and makes it accessible to readers unfamiliar with how gravity affects ordinary objects....A great book for readers who want to learn more about the science hidden beneath the surface of their lives.”
–Library Journal

“Jim Kakalios is recognized as the world's expert on the physics of superheroes, but apparently his talents also extend to the real world. We shouldn't be surprised: physics is at heart a search for basic underlying principles, whether in comic-book universes or our everyday lives. You won't find a better, more enjoyable tour guide to how the laws of physics explain the world all around us.” –Sean Carroll, physicist at Caltech and author of The Big Picture
 
“Think how much richer your life would be if you understood how the beloved devices that govern your daily life actually worked.  You might be surprised to learn that even the most common ones–like your smartphone and GPS–depend on the wonders of modern physics, such as quantum mechanics and general relativity.  A new world awaits you in this accessible and charming volume by James Kakalios, who takes you through an ordinary day that becomes extraordinary through his clear examples.” –Lawrence M. Krauss, Director of the Origins Project and author of A Universe from Nothing and The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far

JULY 2017 - AudioFile

You may think you're just turning on a coffeemaker, inserting your credit card, dialing up a website, or submitting to an airport scan, but, according to author James Kakalios, what you're really doing is unleashing, displacing, or converting energy according to principles of physics. Who knew, for example, that Einstein's theory of relativity is applied every time you use your GPS device or that a modern cable elevator will not crash even if all the cables are cut. Narrator Jonathan Todd Ross manages to combine storytelling skills with the strengths of a science lecturer, making this audiobook accessible to most listeners. However, just as it was in high school physics class, some people will quickly grasp the basic concepts while others will require more time to digest the many theorems and processes—so prepare to hit the rewind button. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2017-03-07
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.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169498516
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	05/16/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Physics of Everyday Things"
by .
Copyright © 2017 James Kakalios.
Excerpted by permission of Crown/Archetype.
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