Books in Contemporary Discourse in the Field of Physics series

This book offers the latest thinking on the physics principles and processes behind such everyday activities as ball bouncing, stone skipping, soccer kicks, and spear or javelin throwing, and revisits Newton's Laws of Motion and the power of momentum. It also covers the animal world, discussing the physics of falling cats, bugs that walk on water, and the origins of flight in birds. With twenty selections drawn from leading journals and periodicals, this anthology presents the most recent scholarship and cutting-edge theories concerning the laws of motion and their real-life manifestations in the world around us.

As research continues into the changes in physical systems and the conservation of energy and momentum, new applications are being tested and practical use is being found for these applications every day. Scientists are using these breakthroughs to test new methods of space exploration, how to deflect Earth-threatening asteroids, and even power medical devices as small as a human cell. With articles written and introduced by experts in this field, readers will find this fascinating book both authoritative and insightful.

This book examines the lives of stars, following their formation, and looking at their characteristics and planetary systems, and the end of their lives. Using twenty articles published in current science journals, the editor presents a balanced look at the current thought on the cycle of stars. A volume introduction and an explanation of the significance of each article helps to make the information exceptionally accessible.

This anthology comprises twenty research papers and articles that discuss the role the Sun plays in the solar system, with a primary emphasis on its effects on Earth. It includes discussions on sunspots, sun-climate connections, solar energy, global warming, and photosynthesis. Each entry is prefaced with an accessible introduction that covers key concepts, places the discussion in historical context, or frames its position within the wider scientific discourse.