Description
This book is geared towards helping Middle school readers understand the fundamentals of physics. The book has ten chapters, each focusing on a part of the city (eg, in the street, at a restaurant, in the pool, etc). Each of the ten chapters explores the salient physics features that one would encounter. Focus on a place means that multiple physics topics can be introduced in one “chapter.” Each chapter consists of two double-page spreads, and each tile explores one aspect of physics. For instance, the “At the Pool” chapter covers sound waves crossing from one medium to another (revisited in “At the Doctor’s”), buoyancy (revisited in “In a Restaurant”), refraction, radiation (revisited in “At the Doctor’s”), and evaporation (revisited in “In a Restaurant”).
The narrative is both playful and informative. The illustrations enhance the narrative, making the concepts memorable. Each tile has a label, making it easy to reference later. Virtually all major aspects of physics are covered, and even complex aspects (Doppler, quantum) are covered. With an emphasis on qualitatively understanding, there are no equations. The book is fun to read; it does not require knowledge of physics, just a curious mind. Recommended for Middle School readers and educators.