Ask Uncle Albert: 100 1/2 Tricky Science Questions Answered.

by Russell Stannard

How do pictures get on to our television sets?
Why is snow white?
Can astronauts cry in their high pressure suits?
If apes developed into humans, what developed into apes?
How do clouds stay up in the sky?
Why is water wet?
How many stars are there in the world?

Physicist Russell Stannard is, to thousands of British children, Uncle Albert, the science teacher we all wish we'd had.
His latest book, Ask Uncle Albert: 100 1/2 Tricky Science Questions, is packed full of fiendish questions children have asked him - and they're all answered in simple, easy to understand language.
He covers a huge range of subjects including space travel, planets and black holes, rainbows, volcanoes and clouds.
Complete with illustrations and quiz questions, this is an enthralling book any child who is fascinated by science.
And what is the 1/2 a question? - You'll have to read the book to find out!

'What every pestered parent has been praying for.' - New Scientist
'Wonderfully lucid child-friendly answers.' - Sunday Telegraph
'Enough to make a parent weep with gratitude.' - The Guardian

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Russell Stannard is a retired high-energy particle physicist, who was born in London, England, on 24 December 1931. He currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus of Physics at the Open University. In 1986, he was awarded the Templeton UK Project Award for ‘significant contributions to the field of spiritual values; in particular for contributions to greater understanding of science and religion’. He was awarded the OBE for ‘contributions to physics, the Open University, and the popularisation of science’ (1998) and the Bragg Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics for ‘distinguished contributions to the teaching of physics’ (1999). He was admitted as a Fellow of University College London in 2000.

Reviews

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

olles onu Alberti lugusid samalt autorilt enne lugenud, olid mu ootused küsimuste-vastuste raamatu osas päris kõrged (ehkki tegelikult ma ei armasta seda formaati, sest mulle meeldib raamatuid pigem järjest lugeda, aga sellisest saab ruttu üledoosi). no tõesti, arusaadavad vastused laste keerulistele küsimustele teadusteemadel võiks ju olla äge lugemine?

aga hullult käis närvidele suurema osa ajast. ma ei teagi. küsimused olid selgelt väljamõeldud, mina ei usu, et päris lapsed päriselt nii on küsinud. (alguses natuke uskusin, aga kui siis tuli küsimus, et tsau, oleme siin parasjagu noortevanglas ja palun kinnitage, kas peab paika meie teooria, et me saaks musta augu kaudu põgeneda, siis... ei.) vastused olid okei, ses mõttes, et õiged ja ka arusaadavad ja tõesti lastepärases keeles. vahepeal tehti natuke nalja ka juurde, see oli paraku veidi punnitatud.

paljude vastuste lõpus olid lisaküsimused, millele sai ise mõelda ja siis vastuse järele kontrollida. ma tegin selle kohusetundlikult kaasa, sest tean, et see on millegi õppimiseks või kinnistamiseks tõesti hea meetod. taas kord, iseenesest hästi tehtud ju, aga ma olin kuidagi... pettunud, et liiga lihtsad küsimused olid.

kas ma midagi uut teada sain 100+ küsimuse-vastuse läbilugemise käigus? vist ÜHE asja (et miks pilved üleval püsivad). veits nagu kehv skoor.

ühesõnaga, mu põhipretensioon on, et mul oli igav, ja mul ei tohiks olla igav, kui ma loen lasteraamatut ennast huvitavatel teemadel.

aa, ja: väga harva kohtab ingliskeelsetes raamatutes kirjavigu või puhast toimetamatust, aga siin jäi korduvalt silma sõna "passed" kasutamine sõna "past" asemel ja ma isegi ei teadnud, et keegi suudab sellise vea teha, rääkimata siis sellest, et selline asi toimetajast mööda lipsab (haha, siin raamatus oleks öeldud "got passed the editor")! lasteraamatus! väga õudne. mingi teine sarnane homofooniviga oli veel, aga ainult ühe korra, nii et ma enam ei mäleta, mis täpselt.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

99. Why can't dogs marry cats?

The quick answer, I suppose, is that they don't fancy each other!

Fantastic for children, and any adult who intends to give children-friendly explanations. The book is made even better with illustrations and quick quiz sections that let readers apply what they learned from Stannard's explanations. Stannard's Templeton Prize did set some warning flags, but I'm happy to report the book is all about science.

Needs a bit of an update. The edition I read published in 1998, tags the Universe at "12,000 million years". The Earth? "4,600 million". What's wrong with the billion? Probably my only complaint with the entire book was the funny dating. Do children find it easier to start with the million concept?

It's endearing that Stannard does not assume an omniscient tone. For some questions, Stannard admits he doesn't know the answer at all; he needed to ask someone who knows better answers, or that he read a good book first. That attitude does wonders for readers.