Atoms Under the Floorboards: The Surprising Science Hidden in Your Home

by Chris Woodford

Using the modern home as a springboard, Atoms Under the Floorboards presents the fascinating and surprising scientific explanations behind a variety of common (and often entertainingly mundane) household phenomena, from gurgling drains and squeaky floorboards to rubbery custard and shiny shoes.

Packed with facts and fun, each chapter focuses on the objects and processes familiar in everyday life and slowly unpicks the science behind them. For example, the chapter on how buildings work introduces static and dynamic forces in explaining why buildings (and their foundations) don't sink into the ground and why skyscrapers don't blow over in strong winds. The chapter on bicycles explores how "circles (better known as wheels) with a few flimsy bits of metal (spokes) stretched between them" are able to support your weight--and this leads into a discussion of compression, tension, and how gears work.

After reading Atoms Under the Floorboards , you'll never look at everyday objects the same way again.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Popular Science, Physics, Chemistry

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2015

About the author

Chris Woodford writes popular science and technology books for adults and children. He studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University. His books include the bestselling "Cool Stuff" series for Dorling Kindersley, and he also writes the popular science education website Explain that Stuff.

Reviews

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two chapters started off slowly, but the book gained momentum and became a joy to read. This is a well-written and interesting book that discusses the physics behind everyday objects and occurrences, such as why wool keeps you warm; how detergents work; how toilets work; fluid dynamics; the science of cooking; cooling and heating; how digital camera's and music work; how light; radio and cell phones work; squeaky floors and elastics; glass and why we can see through windows; metal alloys and stainless steel; how glue works; fuel and transport; and why buildings don't fall down.

Too bad there weren't any equations and a bit of maths. On the other hand, the author did provide many black and white diagrams to illustrate certain key concepts. As an additional "bonus", the author discusses the science and keeps any personal waffling to a minute minimum (for which this reader is entirely grateful).

This would make a good book for the interested general reader, teenager or even scientist who may not be familiar with everything covered in this book. The material in this book is not over-overwhelmingly complicated, but not simplified into uselessness. The author also includes addition reading matter suitable for the general public.

Addendum: My 90 year old grandmother thought this book was brilliant.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well who knew all these amazing things were hiding in our homes? This is a perfect book for science teachers, parents with school age children, and anyone interested in learning why we can see through windows, but not walls.
Woodford offers a humorous, but serious look at all the science in our homes; explains concepts in a simple way, and leaves the reader feeling quite smart. Haven't you wondered why your laptop gets hot when its only moving part is its fan?

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very fond of the 'take something everyday and use it to explore science' genre - I did exactly that with my book The Universe Inside You, and I'm delighted to say that in Atoms Under the Floorboards - the surprising science hidden in your home, Chris Woodford takes the same kind of approach, yet come up with a totally different and highly engaging book.

The introduction was a little worrying, as it tries a bit too hard to be friendly in a way that feels at times like a kid's book ('surprising scientific explanations behind all kinds of everyday things, from gurgling drains and squeaky floorboards to rubbery custard and shiny shoes') and at others like the over-enthusiastic introduction to the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Like that remarkable tome, it settles down after a bit, although the text throughout has a kind of breathless enthusiasm that feels like it ought to be read aloud by the actor in the Cillit Bang commercial.

Mostly the result is phenomenal. I love the way that Woodford thinks about things we don't normally consider, like why houses don't fall down, and goes off on a riff that compares the forces from the weight of an apple (conveniently about 1 newton), through the bite of an alligator to the Space Shuttle blast-off. He manages to make very ordinary, basic stuff like simple machines (levers, wedges, wheels and the like) and turns them into things that we look at differently and understand in more depth while still genuinely enjoying what's being covered.

The only part I'd say where things get a bit sticky are the sections where he's covering material science, which frankly got just the teeniest bit dull, although even here, thinking about, for instance, the nature of glue was quite an eye-opener. If I'm going to be picky - and you have to, really, in the communication of science - the mega-breezy approach does lead to one or two pretty well incorrect statements. Einstein came up with a baffling new theory called relativity - no he didn't (that was Galileo). Or Rutherford split the atom in his gold foil experiment - no he didn't.

Even so, there is plenty to enjoy and plenty of 'I didn't know that' moments, whether you are reading about the science of slipping or the mechanism of an LED lamp. We end up with the topic of clothing, from how different materials keep you warm and/or dry (though again materials science is the least interesting aspect of the content), why jeans wear out at the knees (contrasted with a pulley), and the science of shoes, which is fine, but just stops - I'd have liked a bit of a wind-down at the end.

One final plus point - in the 'Further Reading' in the back, rather than showing off, as some authors do, by listing eminent but unreadable tomes, Woodford lists some excellent suggestions, including several that have received five stars here.

Altogether a fun, light hearted science book that you could give to a teenager, or the sort of person who doesn't really read popular science but would like to find out a bit more about the scientific world around them - and I think they'll have a good time.

[Book Shark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atoms Under the Floorboards: The Surprising Science Hidden in Your Home by Chris Woodford


“Atoms Under the Floorboards" is a fun and engaging book that explores the science of everyday life. Popular science writer Chris Woodward takes the general public on a journey of the hidden science in one’s home. This entertaining 336-page book includes the following eighteen chapters: 1. Firm Foundations, 2. Upstairs, Downstairs, 3. Superheroics, 4. The Beauty of Bikes, 5. Car Crazy, 6. Sticky Stuff, 7. The Inside Story, 8. Amazing Glazing, 9. Saggy Sofas, Squeaky Floors, 10. Light Delights, 11. Radio Gaga, 12. Living by Numbers. 13. Blowing Hot and Cold, 14. Food Miles, 15. Stirring Stuff, 16. Water, Water, 17. Stain Games, and 18. Dressing to Impress.

Positives:
1. An entertaining and accessible book. Woodford keeps the science to a basic level.
2. A fun and fascinating topic, the science hidden in your home.
3. Woodford has a great command of the topic and he understands the targeted audience. His engaging style and the ability to convey complex topics in an accessible manner hits the mark.
4. Solid format. Eighteen chapters that cover a wide range of popular science topics hidden in your home. Each chapter begins with a series of questions that will be answered. The author also bold faces topics of interest and showcases subtopics in gray text boxes.
5. Effective use of diagrams to complement the narrative.
6. The book is full of interesting facts some that even debunk commonly held beliefs. “In fact, engineers have found that opening windows allows high-pressure, turbulent air to blast inside and increases the risk of the roof blowing off, making it more likely that the walls will collapse as well.”
7. A very good accessible chapter on energy. “There’s a fixed amount of energy in the Universe and all we can do is ‘trade’ it in a zero-sum game: every energy gain somewhere is exactly matched by an energy loss somewhere else.”
8. How the wheel works. “That’s the hidden secret of how wheels work: they reduce friction by transferring it to the axles.”
9. The three main ways you use or lose energy when you cycle.
10. Interesting chapter on cars. “The fundamental problem with cars is that a mere 15 per cent of the energy locked in petrol actually moves you down the road. The rest is wasted in various ways, including heat losses in the cylinders, frictional rubbing in the gears, the sound the engine makes, powering the electrical system and much more besides.”
11. A fascinating look at the stickiest and slipperiest things we’re likely to encounter.
12. So what makes one material different from another? Find out.
13. A look at stainless steel. “Another big problem with iron is that it rusts very easily. One option is to paint it – over and over again in the case of a giant iron structure like the Forth Bridge. A better solution is to add some chromium to your iron-carbon mix, making the even more sophisticated alloy that we call stainless steel.”
14. An interesting look at glass. “While it’s correct to say that glass is somewhere between a solid and a liquid, that doesn’t mean it’s still in the process of becoming a solid or will eventually solidify completely; it’s as solid as it’s ever going to get.”
15. The difference between elastic and plastic. “The word plastic means something more precise: flexible or changeable.”
16. An excellent chapter on light. “What is light? The short answer is ‘energy we can see’.”
17. A look at communications. “The theory of radio came from playful Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Knitting electricity and magnetism together in four simple mathematical equations, he produced the first combined theory of electromagnetism in 1873.”
18. The laws of thermodynamics. “the Second Law of Thermodynamics rules it out. In its simplest form, it says that heat always flows from hot to cold, never the other way around (unless there’s some kind of outside help).”
19. Difference between heat energy and temperature. “How can the water in a central heating system be dropping off heat in each room and yet still stay hot enough to deliver heat to the next room, the next and the next? It all comes back to water’s high specific heat capacity: its amazing ability to retain heat thanks to all the molecules packed inside it.”
20. Notes and further reading material suggestions provided.

Negatives:
1. Writing for laypersons always comes at a price. Lacks scientific depth but done so to reach general audiences.
2. The book is a little uneven some chapters are covered in more depth than others.
3. Some topics were left unaddressed. I would have added a chapter on the hidden dangers/safety in a home.

In summary, this was a fun and entertaining book to read. Woodford has a charming, innate curiosity (reminiscent of popular physicist Brian Cox) that drives him to ask questions about his environment and seeks answers to them. It lacks depth but it’s an excellent book to give young adults and laypersons interested in basic science of everyday things. I recommend it!

Further recommendations: “Rust” by Jonathan Waldman, “Stuff Matters” by Mark Miodownik, “Everyday Calculus” by Oscar E. Fernandez, “The Disappearing Spoon” by Sam Kean, “Science Matters” by Robert M. Hazen “Faraday, Maxwell, and the Electromagnetic Field” by Nancy Forbes, and “Tesla” by W. Bernard Carlson.

[Chloe Robertson · Rating 2 out of 5]

An enjoyment rating, not a measure of how good I think the book is!

Awesome book for science newbies, just wasn’t a great read for me as I was familiar with most of the content

[Yuvaraj kothandaraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Woodford's Atoms Under the Floorboards achieves something genuinely rare: it makes science feel both intellectually rigorous and utterly human. The title itself is a promise - that fascinating physics isn't confined to textbooks or laboratory settings but lives inside the everyday objects surrounding you.
Opening with a charming comparison to Albert Einstein, Woodford shows how this supposedly untouchable genius was actually quite ordinary: he hated school, flunked entrance exams, struggled to find work. The message is clear before you've finished the introduction: science isn't inaccessible, it's embedded in your socks, your sofas, your kitchen appliances.

Chapter One explores why houses don't sink into the ground, and Woodford's approach here sets the tone for everything that follows. He explains Newton's Laws of Motion in the context of buildings, showing how gravity pulls downward while the ground pushes back with equal force. The mathematics is elegant but accessible. Rather than drowning you in equations, Woodford uses your own body as his calculator: if you weigh 75 kg, your ankles support roughly seven bags of sugar pressing on a postage stamp. This concrete comparison makes abstract physics tangible.

The discussion of the Empire State Building deepens the lesson. Despite weighing 330,000 tonnes and being one of the world's heaviest buildings, it exerts only about 40 times atmospheric pressure on the ground. This seems impossible until Woodford reminds us that weight matters far less than how that weight is distributed. The building's massive base roughly 8,000 square meters spreads the load so effectively that your own ankles withstand nearly half the pressure that the building exerts. It's a humbling realization that silently sits with you through subsequent chapters.

Chapter Two pivots to energy, and here Woodford demonstrates real analytical skill. An engineer climbing 1,870 stairs to the top of the Empire State Building uses approximately 120 kilojoules more energy if he weighs 95 kg rather than 65 kg. This energy equivalent to boiling a cup of coffee suddenly makes the physics of weight comprehensible. You don't just feel heavier going upstairs; you literally use more energy proportional to that difference.

Woodford then complicates this with an elegant paradox: two chocolate-chip cookies contain about 450 kJ, theoretically enough to power the entire climb, yet in reality only about 20 percent of food energy converts to mechanical work. This explains why the engineer will find the climb harder on the way down than the energy economics suggest. The book doesn't shy away from inefficiency - it embraces it as fundamental.

The chapter's treatment of power (energy per unit time) is particularly strong. Woodford calculates that a hamster running on a wheel produces 0.5 watts, meaning it would take three days of hamster power to boil a kettle, while a professional cyclist with a good generator could do it in 15 minutes. These comparisons aren't just amusing; they're revelatory about why we need power stations rather than hamster farms.

Chapter Three tackles levers, wheels, and ramps - the hidden machinery in everything from screwdrivers to your own skeleton. Archimedes claimed that with a lever long enough, he could lift the Earth. Woodford calculates this lever would need to be 80 million trillion kilometers long , 500 billion times the distance to the Sun. The mathematical absurdity makes the principle of leverage crystal clear.

What's particularly clever is how Woodford shows that levers multiply either force or speed but never both simultaneously. When you use a spanner to turn a rusty bolt, you're applying modest force at the end of a long lever to produce enormous force at the center. When you swing an axe, the opposite happens: you move slowly at the pivot point (your shoulders) but the blade accelerates to devastating speeds. This principle reappears everywhere i.e., in your skeleton, in your bicycle, in your teeth.

The discussion of wheels building on this foundation is genuinely insightful. Wheels work not primarily through leverage but by reducing friction: instead of your entire body scraping across the ground (enormous friction), only the axles contact the ground (minimal friction). Visualizing yourself as a human cart with thumbs and toes serving as axles makes this concept unforgettable. The explanation is so clear that you understand why wheels were humanity's greatest innovation.

Could You Set Your House on Fire with an Electric Drill?
This is where Woodford's wit shines. A 750-watt drill applied continuously to wooden wall material could theoretically ignite a fire in approximately four minutes, as wood typically catches fire at 200-400°C. He acknowledges the caveats -heat escapes, assumptions simplify reality, but arrives at a genuinely sobering conclusion: electric drills are genuinely dangerous in ways we rarely consider. The math is straightforward enough that you could verify it yourself, which is precisely what good science writing does.

Chapter Seven pivots to atomic structure, and here the book's scope expands dramatically. Roughly 100 different types of atoms exist in the periodic table, yet most living things and many non-living materials are built from just four: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Woodford then demonstrates this with water: two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Change the arrangement slightly and you have something entirely different. The book explores how this same principle explains why salty fish and chips don't turn iron atoms to rust inside forks - it's all about how atoms bond together. This section would have benefited from slightly more technical detail, but the accessibility-first approach works for general readers.

Chapter Nine addresses material failure in ways that feel almost philosophical. Elastic materials like rubber are made of long, tangled molecules that straighten when pulled but spring back when released - at least initially. Woodford explains that vulcanized rubber (rubber treated with sulfur) creates cross-links making it stronger and more durable than raw rubber. Early versions of chewing gum used chicle, a natural form of latex rubber, which is why swallowing gum is risky - it doesn't break down the way other foods do. This connects back to Chapter 1: materials don't fail because they're weak, but because every material has limits, and understanding those limits determines whether objects last decades or fail catastrophically.

Chapter Twelve's exploration of digital technology is where some readers may find the book reaching beyond its core strengths. Computers reduce all informations - photographs, music, text to strings of binary code (ones and zeros), while humans are fundamentally analogue creatures who process continuous sensations. Woodford's argument that computers are "digital philistines" unable to distinguish between a David Hockney brushstroke and a Rolling Stones song encoded identically is clever but somewhat philosophically muddled. He seems to be arguing both that digital compression loses something meaningful AND that it doesn't matter because computers don't experience meaning anyway. The chapter works as intellectual provocation but lacks the clarity of earlier discussions.

Woodford's greatest strength is making implicit physics explicit. Most people never question why buildings stay upright or how scissors cut, yet these phenomena involve sophisticated physics. By forcing readers to confront the science silently operating in their homes, Woodford achieves something genuinely educational. The comparative framework - relating everything to human bodies, to familiar objects, to things you can calculate yourself - transforms abstract principles into lived understanding.

The writing voice is warm and conversational without being condescending. Woodford frequently invokes "you" addressing the reader directly, making this feel like a long conversation with an enthusiastic friend rather than a lecture. His humor is gentle rather than forced (the spherical cow metaphor in Chapter 2 works perfectly), and his willingness to acknowledge where his simplifications break down in real life shows intellectual honesty.

The later chapters on digital technology and living by numbers feel somewhat disconnected from the earlier focus on physical science. Chapters 8, 10, 11, and beyond enter territory less directly related to "atoms under the floorboards" and more about information science and technology. This isn't necessarily bad, but it dilutes the book's central focus. Additionally, while the book promises "surprising science hidden in your home," some chapters venture into less household-specific territory. The treatment of light and electromagnetism (Chapter 10) gets somewhat abstract, and the discussion of chemistry and materials science could have included more practical examples of failures and fixes readers might experience.

Some chapters also feel rushed. The atomic structure explanation in Chapter 7 could have developed further, and the chemistry of rust and corrosion deserves more than the passing mention it receives. Readers with scientific training may find these sections oversimplified to the point of being insufficient, while general readers might have appreciated slightly more depth in these fascinating areas.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Who should read this:
Anyone interested in understanding how everyday things actually work.
Readers who enjoyed books like Mary Roach's Packing for Mars (similar accessible science writing) or Carl Sagan's work (connecting science to everyday wonder).
Parents looking to explain science to curious children in ways that actually make sense.
Anyone who's ever wondered why their sofa sags or how buildings stay upright.
Students wanting to see how fundamental physics principles apply to real life.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal.

Really quite a nice read. Goes into the science without getting overly technical, and it shows us the science behind so many everyday things.

One note, however: hydrogen dioxide would be an EXTREMELY dangerous chemical. So maybe the author should change the few references to it to dihydrogen monoxide, and everyone could live a much safer life. Hopefully this will be fixed before the final copy comes out (the copy I read was a pre-publication review copy).

[Zaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

For people that enjoy science as well as a funny scene of humor, then this book is for you!
Other than the very fascinating facts and explications, we also can see ourselves chuckling a few times.

[Pallavi Kamat · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I am quite fascinated by all things science. I really loved reading this book though I cannot claim to have understood everything. It's got explanations for loads of stuff from soaring skyscrapers to levers to post-it notes to saggy sofas and washing clothes.

The book is written in a casual fashion and the author is really witty + there are loads of tidbits sprinkled across the book. Pick it up for some good ol' science, mostly found in our day-to-day lives.

Some tidbits/phrases I loved:
Science can be as maddening as real life.
Cars are chemistry labs on wheels.
Progress has leaped through the centuries because people have constantly found new ways to put better materials to better use.
Glass is more cunning: what you don't see is what you get.
It's fascinating to think that the progress of science and technology hinges, so often, on brilliant people who ride the divide between genius and madness.
Our brains insist on finding meanings wherever they look - and put them there of they can't.
Will anyone really care if the vast binary chit-chat of the 21st century disappears into nothingness almost as quickly as the people who created it?
The flocks of sheep I watch from my window spend every waking moment nibbling grass while I manage a quick graze just three times a day, freeing myself to do such important things such as watching sheep and thinking about them.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains all the information that we "learned" in science class in school and/or at the science museum and forgot soon afterwards. Going back as an adult with more experience in the world, the innovations and discoveries in this book can be related to your experiences, making the information more interesting and relevant to our lives. I'm giving it a 3 because it took me so long to read, which means it could've been more interesting. Irrelevant information creeps up every chapter and the sidebars say almost the same thing as the main text.

Just one note for American readers: the author is British and measurements are metric, so you have to think a little harder regarding specific locations and read the parentheses to know how many miles x number of km is. Some people find that annoying, but I like getting information from people who aren't American every now and then.

My food for thought quote: "What are you actually like? Can you sum yourself up in nothing but numbers? And, if the answer is 'no', why do we suppose we can compress a Picasso painting into digital photos or squash a Beethoven piano sonata into an MP3 file?"

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Netgalley for a review:

I love books that take everyday things and make them all fancy and scientific, without bogging down in crazy detail. It can act as a way for people to learn about science in an applicable manner, or it can be a good refresher for those who tend to forget (oh the shame!) the scientific details of the world around them.

In my opinion, the best non-textbook books that delve into the STEM side of life are ones that mix in a smattering of wit, humor, and sarcasm, it takes a subject that can be very dry and technical and makes it interesting. Something that many professors need to take note on. I do think this book could use some more illustrations, but that is mostly because I fall into the category of visual learner and it helps me retain information better.

The reason I went with four instead of five stars is, this book was just missing something, a distinctive hook that would have made it stand out among the rest. I honestly cannot say what though, it is a very solid book and one I recommend, maybe for you it will have that distinctive hook!

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was read in a professional capacity.

Interesting subject matter, and could be moderately engaging as a supplement to a high school science curriculum, but the book suffers (increasingly so as one progresses) from the author's smugness and propensity to turn from discussion to moralizing. Poor formatting and note structure should have been corrected prior to release. Not recommended.

[Jack Laschenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly entertaining romp through the basic physics of life.

[Terrance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The author is British, so some of the language and references were a little different. It explained many basic science concepts with nice analogies

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, this book breaks down the science in our everyday lives into easy to understand (and interlinked!) concepts.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 3 out of 5]

A grab bag of explanations of everyday stuff. I'm not sure how well he explains it for someone with little science background, but it's worth reading.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've recently been excited to find out how stuff works at a fundamental level so I was delighted to find Atoms Under the Floorboards by Chris Woodford. Overall, I'm not disappointed: I learned a lot and I feel inspired to learn more. However, I took a long time to read the book so I wonder if it could have been more engaging or if it's inherent to the subject matter.

One of the greatest delights of this book is how easy it is to learn and apply the information: oftentimes I'd read a bit, go about my day, and catch myself thinking about how something works using the knowledge I learned from reading just hours before (huh! Is that why my short's elastic waistband doesn't flex back anymore?). It helps that the explanations are usually extremely clear and that author chose topics that are easily applicable to everyday life. The book strikes a happy balance between technical and "feel good" - a book that feels good while reading but is hard to apply because you haven't actually learned much.

Despite my excitement in learning how the world works, the book took me a while to get through and I'm not sure why that is. I imagine I'd have a similar roadblocks in taking a science course (to be clear, this book isn't nearly that technical!) so I wonder if it's inherent for me reading technical topics but I have noticed some other reviewers having similar experiences. My main motivation to keep going was just how much I was learning from chapter to chapter.

I love that the book provided me with a fun overview of science fundamentals that I can apply every day. I now feel inspired, prepared, and excited to dive deeper into science in general. I'm really excited to apply my new knowledge to highly specific questions that strike me like, "How does fire work?" on websites like the author's Explain That Stuff, and to learn more fundamentals like classical mechanics through online courses. I'm quite happy I read this book.

[Sandroenea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiolibro.
Mi sono distratto a volte e a volte ho semplicemente fatto finta di aver capito cosa stessi ascoltando, ma è stata una piacevole esperienza. Ben scritto e letto, argomenti interessanti e molto curiosi dal mio punti di vista.
E' un insieme di argomenti che riguardano oggetti della vita quotidiana, che però conosciamo davvero poco per funzionamento e leggi della fisica che seguono.
Dalla bicicletta al forno a microonde, dal riscaldamento di casa alle onde radio, tutto molto interessante e (da ignorante in materia) sorprendente.

Avrei apprezzato di più un libro cartaceo probabilmente, ma lo consiglio senza dubbio!

[Sylvia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non male, dai! Mi ha intrattenuto ed è stato piacevole avere tanti esempi di scienza, soprattutto fisica, quotidiana, anche se l'ho trovato troppo poco approfondito per i miei gusti -- ciò che conoscevo già era spiegato sempre con le solite parole, e ciò che non conosco bene non l'ho trovato sufficientemente spiegato per i miei standard. C'è però anche da dire che i miei standard sono probabilmente troppo alti per un libro divulgativo di fisica, e infatti questo genere di libri ormai raggiunge sempre un plateau di intrattenimento che non riesce mai a superare; ma per quel che vale, mi ha intrattenuto e ho preso anche moltissimi appunti, quindi approvato!

[Roberto Bovina · Rating 5 out of 5]

C1, FORZA, leggi del moto (Newton), gravità terrestre.
C2, ENERGIA (Joule), POTENZA-energia trasferita in una data unità di tempo-ENERGIA/TEMPO, l'unità di misura è Joule per secondo (WATT), Kilowattora (KWH) è unità di energia - Tempo x Watt. C3, macchine semplici, leve, ruote, piani inclinati.
C4, le biciclette sono leve. Come funzionano gli ingranaggi - velocità contro forza.
C5, la benzina è zeppa di energia, metodi alternativi per alimentare le auto (diesel, elettrico), vantaggi delle auto elettriche

[Rob Paczkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a science teacher teaching this stuff daily, was a struggle to get through but the way the author approached it was good for the layman if a bit dry at times. But they are facts and the book is fact driven. If only most of society approaches life like this author does... but it is easy to,gloss over the stuff you know and dive into that you don’t. Teaching chemistry in my last year before I retire for the first time and my last chem class was 1982, this did help to give me examples to maybe help my students understand some complex science concepts.

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un viaggio incredibile, entusiasmante e completo sulla Fisica degli oggetti quotidiani che ci circondano.

Analizza praticamente ogni argomento della fisica, dalla meccanica dei fluidi, passando per la relatività fino alla meccanica quantistica e all'elettrodinamica, con un linguaggio accurato, semplice e funzionale

[Stella Aquino · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't understand what the author is trying to persuade us, I am 11 years old but i think that one of my friends would like, because I don't like the best science , I prefer English class, but I think its very directed the book, I like facts, that's why I gave 2 stars, but the author is so fun.💛👋🥱

[Brianna Carosi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The science was easy to grasp and good information. I felt like the title was a bit misleading because I expected more chemistry and was disappointed. The information here wasn't anything really new to me. Could be a little dry and boring at times.

[Proka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The science of everyday things. Amazing.

The detailed explanations add to the beauty of objects.

e.g.:
- Why can you see through windows but not through walls?
- What's the connection between a bike wheel, a suspension bridge and a wedding dress?

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Domanda numero uno che pongo a me stessa: perché ho deciso di leggere un libro sulla fisica quando sapevo già di odiarla? Ho provato a dargli una possibilità! Il titolo era simpatico e l'inizio era molto comprensibile (perfino per una ignorante in materia come me) ma poi mi sono persa....

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for students!

[m. · Rating 1 out of 5]

pochi argomenti, trattati all'infinito in modo prolisso, lento e per nulla entusiasmante. noiosissimo. mi aspettavo di più.

[Arjun]

Bookmark...
October 16
CHAPTER ONE
Firm Foundations

[Harshil · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has a lot of good information, the writing style was too long for me. it would be better if condensed.