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

The perfect way to enjoy science from the sofa, Atoms under the Floorboards introduces you to the incredible scientific explanations behind a variety of household phenomena, from gurgling drains and squeaky floorboards to rubbery custard and shiny shoes. * Is it better to build skyscrapers like wobbly jellies or stacks of biscuits? *Can you burn your house down with an electric drill? *How many atoms would you have to split to power a lightbulb? Atoms under the Floorboards answers all these questions, and hundreds more. You'll never look at your home the same way again ... Read more... Everything you ever wanted to know about the surprising science behind how things in your home work. 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 "a couple of more or less empty 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. Shortlisted for the Physics World Book of the Year (2015). Using the modern home as a springboard, Atoms under the Floorboards introduces the reader to 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 a feature in each of the areas and slowly unpicks the science behind it. * Is it better to build skyscrapers like wobbly jellies or stacks of biscuits? *Can you burn your house down with an electric drill? *How many atoms would you have to split to power a lightbulb? *How can a raincoat be waterproof and breathable at the same time? Atoms under the Floorboards answers all these questions, and hundreds more. You'll never look at your home the same way again ... The perfect way to enjoy science from the sofa, Atoms under the Floorboards introduces you to the incredible scientific explanations behind a variety of household phenomena, from gurgling drains and squeaky floorboards to rubbery custard and shiny shoes. *Is it better to build skyscrapers like wobbly jellies or stacks of biscuits? *Can you burn your house down with an electric drill? *How many atoms would you have to split to power a lightbulb? Atoms under the Floorboards answers all these questions, and hundreds more. You'll never look at your home the same way again ... Source other than the Library of Congress 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. *Atoms Under the Floorboards* won The American Institute of Physics 2016 Science Writing Award for Books and was named a Physics World Top 10 Book in 2015. Firm foundations -- Upstairs, downstairs -- Superheroics -- The beauty of bikes -- Car crazy -- Sticky stuff -- Then inside story -- Amazing glazing -- Saggy sofas, squeaky floors -- Light delights -- Radio Gaga -- Living by numbers -- Blowing hot and cold -- Food miles -- Stirring stuff -- Water, water -- Stain games -- Dressing to impress.