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Why Balloons Rise and Apples Fall: The Laws That Make the World Work
We all know the world works in mysterious ways! But have you ever itched to know why? Why don't heavier things fall faster? Why do we have more energy when we're sitting upstairs? Is time travel really possible? And what happened to Schrodinger's poor cat? Why Balloons Rise and Apples Fall is an accessible look at the fascinating, awe-inspiring and sometimes downright weird world of physics. It covers all the basics we learnt at school from: What is physics?; Motion and forces; Work and energy; Matter and heat; and Electricity and magnetism. It even covers the more thought-provoking and complex questions of relativity, quantum physics and astrophysics, as well as all the exciting philosophical questions that arise out of these subjects.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2010
15 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Stewart
3 books6 followersHi. I’m Jeff.
I love sci-fi with a touch of fantasy and a dash of wit. My favourite books make me think and laugh, and sometimes think about why I’m laughing. I try to write stories that have the same effect.
I’ve always loved reading. I blame my mum, who took my brother and me to the local library every Tuesday. So I had to get through four books every week.
My dad, meanwhile, helped me escape the children’s section for the shelves stuffed with books I couldn’t put down: books crammed with aliens, spaceships and robots, or with wizards, magic and mayhem; books full of big ideas and huge questions. These are the tales that mean I’ve spent large parts of my life away with the fairies. Or the Nasqueron Dwellers.
A few of my favourite authors: Iain M Banks, Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Ursula K. Le Guin, Jasper Fforde, China Miéville, JRR Tolkien, Isaac Asimov and Margaret Atwood. And, of course, AA Milne.
My writing...
As Jeff Stewart, I wrote Why Balloons Rise and Apples Fall. It’s an explanation (with no maths) of all the physics you’ve forgotten since you left school. It is available in eight languages, including American (where it is titled E=MC2: Simple Physics: Why Balloons Rise, Apples Fall & Golf Balls Go Awry). In the UK, it’s still in lots of libraries.
Now, as Jeffrey A Stewart, I’m working on a series of science fiction and fantasy stories set on Erth, a planet named after mud — by a people who can’t spell properly. Expect adventure, intrigue and plot twists in a post-apocalyptic universe. Expect creaking space hardware and sharp swords. Expect strange monsters. And stranger people.
A bit more about me...
I live on the edge of London, in the UK. I love the ancient woodland nearby. And the stinking city over the hill. And as I wander, I wonder: what would happen if the comforts of our civilisation were stripped away? What would we think if the internet ended? And how would we live without takeaway pizza?
When I’m not reading or writing, I work as an editor and graphic designer. And as personal assistant to four kids, three cats, two bikes and one quite singular wife.
I love sci-fi with a touch of fantasy and a dash of wit. My favourite books make me think and laugh, and sometimes think about why I’m laughing. I try to write stories that have the same effect.
I’ve always loved reading. I blame my mum, who took my brother and me to the local library every Tuesday. So I had to get through four books every week.
My dad, meanwhile, helped me escape the children’s section for the shelves stuffed with books I couldn’t put down: books crammed with aliens, spaceships and robots, or with wizards, magic and mayhem; books full of big ideas and huge questions. These are the tales that mean I’ve spent large parts of my life away with the fairies. Or the Nasqueron Dwellers.
A few of my favourite authors: Iain M Banks, Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Ursula K. Le Guin, Jasper Fforde, China Miéville, JRR Tolkien, Isaac Asimov and Margaret Atwood. And, of course, AA Milne.
My writing...
As Jeff Stewart, I wrote Why Balloons Rise and Apples Fall. It’s an explanation (with no maths) of all the physics you’ve forgotten since you left school. It is available in eight languages, including American (where it is titled E=MC2: Simple Physics: Why Balloons Rise, Apples Fall & Golf Balls Go Awry). In the UK, it’s still in lots of libraries.
Now, as Jeffrey A Stewart, I’m working on a series of science fiction and fantasy stories set on Erth, a planet named after mud — by a people who can’t spell properly. Expect adventure, intrigue and plot twists in a post-apocalyptic universe. Expect creaking space hardware and sharp swords. Expect strange monsters. And stranger people.
A bit more about me...
I live on the edge of London, in the UK. I love the ancient woodland nearby. And the stinking city over the hill. And as I wander, I wonder: what would happen if the comforts of our civilisation were stripped away? What would we think if the internet ended? And how would we live without takeaway pizza?
When I’m not reading or writing, I work as an editor and graphic designer. And as personal assistant to four kids, three cats, two bikes and one quite singular wife.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 17, 2017
I have had this book in my bag, only reading when travelling on public transport or 5 minutes to top up my knowledge on the laws of nature. As someone studying physics, I found this book very interesting and easy to read and understand... It was also really good to quickly remind myself of important dates and time periods. Jeff Stewart has a really fun personality that shines through this book from page 1. I really like his analogies too! :)
August 19, 2017
Can't rate this book highly enough! All I can say is that I'm glad I found this book. I've read other books on similar subject matter but this book far outweighed the others in terms of the simplicity of explanation. It's fun too! I feel like I have learnt something whilst enjoying myself.
March 19, 2015
This book is outstanding. If we want to wonder thinking or knowing about our universe this book is the right one to have it. When I came to know certain laws n principles of physics my jaws dropped to the floor( tho I could not understand all :P). Good read over all.
February 24, 2019
Standard popular physics book.
A bit too standard though.
A bit too standard though.
January 31, 2020
I read this book in Dutch! funny and easy to understand!! Everry day I look in this book! Physics is my passion!! I'm verry happy I found this book! Stephan De Ridder Grimbergen Belgium🙂
January 23, 2024
Interesting and clever. Lots of physical concepts in a more digestible format, but to be honest, I still don't understand half of it 😅
October 20, 2021
Bought on a whim while at the British Museum, I picked up this little gem in the hope that I might glean some useful simple analogies and explanations to use with my science students. I wasn't disappointed. Jeff Stewart is as funny as he is well informed.
Dealing with the laws of Physics, Stewart covers much of the ground needed for GCSE science and not a small amount of the principles required for at least the 'bigger picture' ideas encountered with A level Physics. Very accessible, it makes an ideal introductory book for students to read, perhaps over the summer before starting their respective courses. Certainly, after reading it, if you found it boring then Physics probably isn't for you. It is a relatively short book, with ten chapters each covering a particle area of science and never lasting longer than twenty pages. That makes it easy to digest in small chunks.
This is certainly a book I will dip into from time to time when I have a student that just isn't getting it and I need to be reminded of good visual demonstrations and thought experiments that will get the principle across. Knowing me, in researching that, I'll get lost in the gentle humour of the author again and read far more than I need to!
Dealing with the laws of Physics, Stewart covers much of the ground needed for GCSE science and not a small amount of the principles required for at least the 'bigger picture' ideas encountered with A level Physics. Very accessible, it makes an ideal introductory book for students to read, perhaps over the summer before starting their respective courses. Certainly, after reading it, if you found it boring then Physics probably isn't for you. It is a relatively short book, with ten chapters each covering a particle area of science and never lasting longer than twenty pages. That makes it easy to digest in small chunks.
This is certainly a book I will dip into from time to time when I have a student that just isn't getting it and I need to be reminded of good visual demonstrations and thought experiments that will get the principle across. Knowing me, in researching that, I'll get lost in the gentle humour of the author again and read far more than I need to!
December 27, 2016
Un libro che aiuta in modo quasi sempre semplice a capire la fisica e le sue leggi più importanti. Perfetto per chi vuole rinfrescarsi la memoria ma anche per chi studia fisica alle superiori ed ha bisogno di qualche spiegazione in più rispetto a quella offerta dai libri di testo.
April 9, 2017
Tell tale science with a twist of humour.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews