Books with author Stephen M. Tomecek

From the music that thumps through a listener's headphones to the strains of an orchestra funing up for a performance, science plays a vital role in how we hear and create music. Music examines what music is and how scientific principles help control how it is made, and also delves into the histories and workings of different types of musical instruments. Explore the roots of modern techno music, find out who invented the first synthesizer, and discover how modern electronics have changed the way music is made. Hands-on activities allow a closer look into topics such as how the tension in a drum head helps control the pitch and how opera singers can break glass with only their voices. Experimenting with everyday Science investigates the science at work in our daily lives. Each book in the set provides historical background and how things work explanations that cover earth science, biology, chemistry, and/or physics topics. To build on these ideas and make scientific concepts clearer, each book also features at least 25 hands-on, illustrated experiments that readers can do using simple materials found at home or school.

Food explores some of the scientific principles involved in the production, preparation, and preservation of food. Discover why food is a form of stored solar energy and how everything you eat can really be traced back to the sun. Learn how cooking food involves some rather complex chemical reactions and how even something as simple as making ice cream depends on the laws of physics. Hands-on activities help bring the science of food to life, with topics ranging from why food tastes the way it does to how acids and bases produce chemical changes in food as you make cheese and marinate meat.

Science plays a big role in how we create and use the tools and machines that help us in our daily lives. Scientific Principles can be found at work in everything from the simplest hammer to the complex robotic devices found in modern factories. Tools and Machines describes how humans first started using tools and traces the evolution of tools from simple stone implements to the high-tech devices of today. Along with full-color photographs and illustrations, this volume features simple experiments that clearly illustrate the science concepts behind tools and machines. Experimenting with Everyday Science investigates the science at work in our daily lives. Each book in the set provides historical background and how things work explanations that cover earth science, biology, chemistry, and/or physics topics. To build on these ideas and make scientific concepts clearer, each book also features at least 25 hands-on, illustrated experiments that readers can do using simple materials found at home or school.