E=MC2: Simple Physics: Why Balloons Rise, Apples Fall Golf Balls Go Awry

by Jeff Stewart

You don't have to be Einstein to understand quantum physics. With amusing examples from film, TV, and history, learn how physics affects everything in your surroundings--without the use of mind-bending math or the need for a particle accelerator. With E=MC2, you'll When forces Simple answers to questions such as, "Why do balloons rise while apples fall?" The Good, the Bad, and the Why The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is full of absurdities. (For someone whose characters often uphold the law, Clint Eastwood certainly defies the laws of physics in this film.) AC/ but only AC really Alternating current (AC) is much more complicated than direct current (DC). The voltage is constantly moving between positive and negative; the current therefore flows one way, and then the other (rocking back and forth). Why do I feel this warm glow?: The theory behind how the first stars were born General Relativity and The strange result of gravity on time is well proven. Compared to the interminable time you experience while stuck in a traffic jam, time literally runs faster (because gravity is weaker) in the orbiting GPS satellites that help your GPS system get its fix. At the speed of A refresher on the theory of relativity and an understanding of why--a hundred years later--Einstein's physics still points the way in cutting-edge research. Yu In the martial arts movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the rebellious young heroine, Jen Yu, blocks an attacker with her hand without standing or bracing herself. All the while, she holds a cup of tea in her other hand and doesn't spill a drop. Find out why kinetic energy and scalar quantity make her move impossible.
It's physics for the rest of us. So why not come along for the ride? Advance at the speed of light through the fundamental laws of physics as they were discovered, proven wrong, and revolutionized.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Reference, Physics

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Hi. 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.

Reviews

[Orlando Rey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid insight into how the laws of physics work, also some really interesting thought experiments. Will at some point make you question your existence.

[Ivan Cuevas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion this book about physics was truly amazing. Jeff Stewart did a spectacular job on this project because it makes physics ridiculously easy to understand. Personally, I like physics but for those who don't like it very much you probably will after reading this book. Stewart teaches you so much about different types of laws of physics and different theories like the big bang or Newtons Law. Reading this book made me feel so powerful because I learned things that even a 30 year old wouldn't know. I would recommend it to anyone who has a need for knowledge as I do. We should all thank Jeff Stewart for writing such a spectacular book.

[Tra-Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to physics.

You guys saying it's "a bit simplistic" realize how silly you sound, don't you.

[Camellia Schwartzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me wayyyy too long to read this book. I tried a couple of years ago to get started and actually read it but it made no sense to me. I took AP Physics 1 and 2 this past year and the book actually makes sense. Don’t read it if you think you’re going to understand physics now. You need to have a basic understanding of physics otherwise the book will sound like mush. The book briefly covered topics and the author narrated the book in an entertaining way.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. A bit over my head at parts but it's all part of learning more. Interesting!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit simplistic at first but gets meaty toward the end, especially starting with the chapter on Waves. Entirely approachable while not seeming condescending, an excellent introduction to the world(s) of Physics, a very broad and enriching science, recommendable to the uninitiated.

Sample: "Edison tired a lot of stunts, including electrocuting an elephant, to convince people that alternating current was dangerous. He also exploited and ignored Nikola Tesla, who for awhile ended up digging ditches for Edison's company. But Tesla was a genius. He had done the math (AC is much more complicated than DC), and his AC designs- particularly of motors, generators, and power transmission systems - won out all over the world, even if no one wanted to build the death rays and another strange machines he proposed in his later years. Edison, who had plenty of other patents and had started movie piracy as a sideline, merely ended up rich (and famous as the inventor of the lightbulb - which he didn't invent)." ~Chapter 7, "Electricity", pgs. 114-115.

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a science-oriented person. Start talking physics or equations or anything mathematical and my eyes glaze over and my brain shuts down. Ask me about art or literature, ask me to read, review, spell or edit something and I'm all yours. This little book is fantastic. It took subjects and premises that scare me and made them fun and easy to understand. I wish I'd had a book like this during high school science.

This would be a great gift for the science/math lover in your life. It's a fun book to have sitting on your coffee table for entertaining reading.

[Simon Kissam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this book, but mainly just because of the physics, the actual writing isn't that great, though it is easy to understand. Jeff Stewart starts off with simple stuff like Newton's laws of motion, but gets into more complex stuff like wave-lengths and quantum physics, so if you already know that stuff this book isn't for you, as the title does say it's Simple Physics. Also, the writing is a bit dorky and even sometimes goes out of its way to make bad analogies, but still is a very good book.

[Rohan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps a too simplistic introduction to some of the basic topics in physics. This one is meant for a high school student who hates physics. It would give him an overall view of why physics matters. Having said that, I really did enjoy skimming thru this one myself.

A decent one time read.

[Jakob Mascibroda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought experiments let even novice physicists understand Einsteins Theory of Relativity.

[Diane Kennicker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read. Doesn't go into depth which is probably good for the folks who don't want to read thru "heavy" material.

[Steve Schlutow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book.. I purchased it to give me other ideas (words) for examples in my Physics 101 class.. Some examples I really liked and will use in my lesson plans, and other examples I will not.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

It became overly simplistic, I was looking for more meat and actual equations and that type of thing.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice start if self-teaching yourself physics. Make everything simple and interesting.