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The Ups and Downs of Physics: The Science of Gravity, Aerodynamics, and Everyday Mishaps
A spectacular and humorous guide to the physics of everyday life—perfect for readers of Storm in a Teacup and The Disappearing Spoon.
Why do bridges sway in the wind? Why do doorknobs sometimes produce a shock? Where does lightning actually come from—and more importantly, what should we do if we’re suddenly surrounded by it? The Ups and Downs of Physics explores the physics of the world around from dropped cell phone calls to falling objects, radioactivity, alternating currents, and humidity. The book also examines the ethical implications of scientific decision-making by recounting cases such as the Challenger disaster and the Goiânia radioactive accident. And while physics can sometimes cause us problems, the underlying principles are elegant and fascinating—and with this book, we can learn how to harness them to our advantage.
Told in a charming, conversational voice by the husband-and-wife duo Marcus Weber, a celebrated physicist, and Judith Weber, an acclaimed science communicator, this book interweaves fascinating facts about pistol shrimp and electrostatic charge with chatty stories and experiments readers can try at home. Marcus and Judith discuss everything from a cycling holiday in Cuba, to a cracked window in their home, to figuring out why an experiment they designed for a science television show damaged the iPhone of a famous celebrity …
Who knew physics could be so much fun!?
- GenresScience
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 19, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 4, 2025
Book Review: The Ups and Downs of Physics: The Science of Gravity, Aerodynamics, and Everyday Mishaps by Judith Weber, Marcus Weber, and Elizabeth Schwaiger
Rating: 4.9/5
Reactions & Emotional Impact
Reading The Ups and Downs of Physics felt like attending a dinner party hosted by your funniest, most brilliant friends—a physicist and a science communicator—who turn mundane mishaps into thrilling physics lessons. The Webers’ conversational tone (reminiscent of Storm in a Teacup) had me laughing at their Cuban cycling misadventures one moment and gasping at their analysis of the Challenger disaster the next. Their ability to weave personal anecdotes (like a cracked window or a celebrity’s fried iPhone) with profound scientific principles is nothing short of alchemy. As someone who usually dreads equations, I was shocked to find myself attempting their Scotch-tape polarization experiment—and understanding it. The chapter on pistol shrimp (nature’s sonic weapon!) left me evangelizing to anyone within earshot about decibel levels in marine life.
Strengths
-Pedagogical Brilliance: The Webers masterfully balance rigor and accessibility. Complex concepts (e.g., alternating current, aerodynamics) unfold through relatable metaphors (e.g., cycling against wind as an energy transfer puzzle).
-Ethical Depth: Unlike most pop-science books, this doesn’t shy from physics’ darker implications—like the Goiânia radiation tragedy—offering sobering reflections on scientific responsibility.
-Interactive Learning: DIY experiments (e.g., using cell phones to explore light polarization) transform passive reading into active discovery.
-Narrative Charm: Each chapter feels like a standalone short story, from How to Extinguish a -Salmon on Fire (yes, really) to the hauntingly beautiful RIP, Cell Phone.
Constructive Criticism
-Structural Quibbles: The jump from shrimp acoustics to space physics in later chapters feels slightly disjointed; tighter thematic grouping could enhance flow.
-Diversity of Examples: While Western-centric anecdotes dominate, global perspectives (e.g., indigenous knowledge of atmospheric phenomena) could enrich future editions.
-Visual Aids: A few diagrams or QR-linked videos would elevate the hands-on experiments.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a physics book—it’s a celebration of curiosity, proving that science lives in burnt toast and foggy glasses as much as in particle colliders. The Webers don’t just explain physics; they make you fall in love with its messy, magnificent relevance.
Gratitude:
Thank you to Ingram Publisher Services and Edelweiss for the gifted copy—this arrived during a week of tech frustrations, magically reframing my dying phone battery as a teachable moment about electron flow. I love this book so much I plan to buy a few copies for some high school science teachers I know. This will be great for them to share with amenable students.
Why 4.9?
Docked marginally for organizational tweaks, but The Ups and Downs of Physics is a masterclass in science communication.
Key Themes for Further Study:
-The intersection of physics and ethics in engineering disasters
-Comparative analysis with other narrative-driven science books (e.g., The Disappearing Spoon)
-Pedagogical efficacy of humor in STEM education
-Acoustics in marine biology (shrimp vs. whale songs)
-Public misperceptions of radiation risks
A must-read for physics novices and experts craving fresh wonder—proof that gravity isn’t the only force that binds us to this discipline.
Rating: 4.9/5
Reactions & Emotional Impact
Reading The Ups and Downs of Physics felt like attending a dinner party hosted by your funniest, most brilliant friends—a physicist and a science communicator—who turn mundane mishaps into thrilling physics lessons. The Webers’ conversational tone (reminiscent of Storm in a Teacup) had me laughing at their Cuban cycling misadventures one moment and gasping at their analysis of the Challenger disaster the next. Their ability to weave personal anecdotes (like a cracked window or a celebrity’s fried iPhone) with profound scientific principles is nothing short of alchemy. As someone who usually dreads equations, I was shocked to find myself attempting their Scotch-tape polarization experiment—and understanding it. The chapter on pistol shrimp (nature’s sonic weapon!) left me evangelizing to anyone within earshot about decibel levels in marine life.
Strengths
-Pedagogical Brilliance: The Webers masterfully balance rigor and accessibility. Complex concepts (e.g., alternating current, aerodynamics) unfold through relatable metaphors (e.g., cycling against wind as an energy transfer puzzle).
-Ethical Depth: Unlike most pop-science books, this doesn’t shy from physics’ darker implications—like the Goiânia radiation tragedy—offering sobering reflections on scientific responsibility.
-Interactive Learning: DIY experiments (e.g., using cell phones to explore light polarization) transform passive reading into active discovery.
-Narrative Charm: Each chapter feels like a standalone short story, from How to Extinguish a -Salmon on Fire (yes, really) to the hauntingly beautiful RIP, Cell Phone.
Constructive Criticism
-Structural Quibbles: The jump from shrimp acoustics to space physics in later chapters feels slightly disjointed; tighter thematic grouping could enhance flow.
-Diversity of Examples: While Western-centric anecdotes dominate, global perspectives (e.g., indigenous knowledge of atmospheric phenomena) could enrich future editions.
-Visual Aids: A few diagrams or QR-linked videos would elevate the hands-on experiments.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a physics book—it’s a celebration of curiosity, proving that science lives in burnt toast and foggy glasses as much as in particle colliders. The Webers don’t just explain physics; they make you fall in love with its messy, magnificent relevance.
Gratitude:
Thank you to Ingram Publisher Services and Edelweiss for the gifted copy—this arrived during a week of tech frustrations, magically reframing my dying phone battery as a teachable moment about electron flow. I love this book so much I plan to buy a few copies for some high school science teachers I know. This will be great for them to share with amenable students.
Why 4.9?
Docked marginally for organizational tweaks, but The Ups and Downs of Physics is a masterclass in science communication.
Key Themes for Further Study:
-The intersection of physics and ethics in engineering disasters
-Comparative analysis with other narrative-driven science books (e.g., The Disappearing Spoon)
-Pedagogical efficacy of humor in STEM education
-Acoustics in marine biology (shrimp vs. whale songs)
-Public misperceptions of radiation risks
A must-read for physics novices and experts craving fresh wonder—proof that gravity isn’t the only force that binds us to this discipline.
Read
November 3, 2025I should not admit this, but back in school, science and physics were never my favorite topics. While there were many students who were often teased as science nerds, they were actually some of the smarter ones, taking an interest in scientific experiments and the principles behind how some things worked, and other things did not work.
In the book THE UPS & DOWNS OF PHYSICS, Judith and Marcus Weber show how physics can be fun no matter what your age. Judith is a German science journalist while her partner Marcus is a noted physicist. This is the perfect book for people of all ages, especially old-timers like myself who have discovered that it is never too old to learn. But within the pages of the book, the authors have made a point of helping us learn in both a serious and amusing manner. It take away the intimidation of physics, rather putting it on a level for anyone, any age.
There are many things in the book that we take for granted, such as cycling on a bike and finding that headwinds may prove to be a strong adversary. There is also a look back at the Challenger explosion back in 1986, and the person who fought to make sure it didn’t happen, a voice in the wilderness if you will, that tried to alert others to potential dangers. But we know how this all ended for the spacecraft and those on board.
There are other fascinating looks at humidity, how cell phones do not always work where and when we want them to. Bridges that wobble badly are also studied, and why this happens from time to time. The couple also explain why when our bodies are in water, our fingers and toes start to get all wrinkly like a prune. They tell us it is blood vessels contracting, the culprit behind this phenomenon.
The experiments are fun, such as filling a glass bottle with water, capping it off and then hitting the top with a hammer. The bottom of the bottle will pop off neat as you please. Every chapter no make that every page, has some aspect of physics that will delight and dazzle everyone, including those who never thought they appreciated the subject back in school.
In the book THE UPS & DOWNS OF PHYSICS, Judith and Marcus Weber show how physics can be fun no matter what your age. Judith is a German science journalist while her partner Marcus is a noted physicist. This is the perfect book for people of all ages, especially old-timers like myself who have discovered that it is never too old to learn. But within the pages of the book, the authors have made a point of helping us learn in both a serious and amusing manner. It take away the intimidation of physics, rather putting it on a level for anyone, any age.
There are many things in the book that we take for granted, such as cycling on a bike and finding that headwinds may prove to be a strong adversary. There is also a look back at the Challenger explosion back in 1986, and the person who fought to make sure it didn’t happen, a voice in the wilderness if you will, that tried to alert others to potential dangers. But we know how this all ended for the spacecraft and those on board.
There are other fascinating looks at humidity, how cell phones do not always work where and when we want them to. Bridges that wobble badly are also studied, and why this happens from time to time. The couple also explain why when our bodies are in water, our fingers and toes start to get all wrinkly like a prune. They tell us it is blood vessels contracting, the culprit behind this phenomenon.
The experiments are fun, such as filling a glass bottle with water, capping it off and then hitting the top with a hammer. The bottom of the bottle will pop off neat as you please. Every chapter no make that every page, has some aspect of physics that will delight and dazzle everyone, including those who never thought they appreciated the subject back in school.
September 2, 2025
Pretty approachable for sciencey stuff.
Did Not Finish
January 10, 2026I decided to return it early because someone else was waiting for it on Libby... and I wasn't as interested in physics as I thought I was.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews