Books in The Study of Science series

Introduction to physics of interaction of solid surfaces. Deals with friction of metals and non-metals, action of lubricants, how machinery operates under conditions of speed and temperature, brakes, rolling friction, etc. 178 pages, graphs and a few illustrations, indexed. Bowden was a professor at Cambridge, Tabor was head of Surface Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge.

Even students who arent inclined toward the sciences will find this book a great read. It is as much about the history of humanity and our curiosity regarding the world around us as it is an informative survey of our scientific breakthroughs. Included are early achievementssuch as the discovery of fire and written languageand modern triumphs of ingenuity such as space exploration, genetics, information technology, and the so-called God Particle. A history of the sciences that is also a history of human creativity, knowledge, experimentation, and invention, this book inspires a love and respect for curiosity, learning, and understanding that is more important than ever.

From earthquakes to volcanoes, it is an eye-opening introduction to the devastating and often terrifying power of the natural world and how science can be used to predict disasters and help prevent loss of life.Our planet can be violent and destructive. Volcanoes erupt, sending out clouds of ash and rivers of molten lava. Earthquakes shake up the land, destroying buildings and sparking destructive fires. Tsunamis-enormous ocean waves-crash onto the shore, devastating coastal communities.This fascinating guide to natural disasters combines fact-packed, easy-to-read text with colorful and quirky illustrations.

Breathing is essential for life so you can't actually live without it.Breathe in, breathe out ... We all do it, every day and every night. It brings oxygen (a gas in the air) into our lungs. We need oxygen to keep our brains and bodies working properly. Without it-without breathing-we would die very quickly! This breathtaking guide to breathing explores the process of breathing and how disgusting substances like mucus and snot have unexpected uses.

From tides to marine life, it is an eye-opening introduction to the nature of oceans and what they contribute to life on Earth.The surface of our planet Earth is more than two thirds (72 percent) covered by water. We call small stretches of water "seas" and larger expanses "oceans," but they are all part of one gigantic World Ocean that is moving and changing-and affecting our lives-all the time. Without seas and oceans, we would not survive. But where did all this water come from? What does it do? Why do we need it?This fascinating guide to the world's oceans combines fact-packed, easy-to-read text with colorful and quirky illustrations.

Everyone poops. It may seem pretty gross, but it's perfectly healthy and natural.Poop (also called feces or excrement) is the solid waste that's left after we've digested our food. It's the stuff our bodies can't use for energy or growth, and it passes out of us when we go to the toilet. So poop is really just the final product of our digestive system. In this gut-wrenching guide we will explore how we digest our food, and all the strange side effects of this complex and fascinating process-including burps and farts. We will look at what happens when things go wrong, and how this affects the color, smell, and texture of our poop. We will also find out how poop is not just a smelly waste product, but can actually be useful to us.

From thunderstorms to drought, it is an eye-opening introduction to the way weather works, the science of predicting the weather, and the changing nature of the global climate.Day-to-day changes in nature affect our lives in all sorts of ways. We choose what to wear according to the weather. We might have to change our plans because a flood or snow has brought transportation to a halt. Farm crops thrive because of rain. Many of the towns and cities we live in are beside rivers and lakes that were created by rain. Wind-driven waves shaped our coastlines.This fascinating guide to the weird and wonderful world of the weather combines fact-packed, easy-to-read text with colorful and quirky illustrations.

From tectonic plates to soil, it is an eye-opening introduction to how the matter under our feet shapes the world around us.Almost as old as our planet, rocks are formed and shaped by heat, wind, water, and immense amounts of pressure. You can see the evidence of their long and violent history in their color, shape, and texture. In addition to rocks, Earth is full of minerals. In fact, rocks themselves are made out of minerals. These are naturally occurring solids found in the earth.This fascinating guide to rocks and minerals combines fact-packed, easy-to-read text with colorful and quirky illustrations.