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Cover image of Fizzics
Cover image of Fizzics
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Fizzics

The Science of Bubbles, Droplets, and Foams

F. Ronald Young

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Bubbles are everywhere—in water and in air, made from soap and from gas. They are referenced in literature and sung about in songs. They are even the subject of great works of art. From the youngest child blowing bubbles in the backyard to the adult studying the fascinating science behind them, bubbles capture our imagination.

F. Ronald Young’s far-reaching survey of the humble bubble explores the complex behavior of these seemingly simple objects. If you stop to think about it, bubbles and droplets are the cornerstones of the world around us. They are the reason that dolphins cannot swim...

Bubbles are everywhere—in water and in air, made from soap and from gas. They are referenced in literature and sung about in songs. They are even the subject of great works of art. From the youngest child blowing bubbles in the backyard to the adult studying the fascinating science behind them, bubbles capture our imagination.

F. Ronald Young’s far-reaching survey of the humble bubble explores the complex behavior of these seemingly simple objects. If you stop to think about it, bubbles and droplets are the cornerstones of the world around us. They are the reason that dolphins cannot swim faster, that the sky is blue, and that coffee rings form. They are essential to knowing how atom smashers work, how detergents clean dishes, and how to pour a perfect pint.

Beyond these basics, Young shows how humans have put bubbles to use throughout history. Whether in technology—making fire-fighting foams and waterproof makeup—or in medicine—cleaning wounds and clarifying ultrasounds—bubbles are capable of more than most of us have imagined.

With easy-to-understand explanations, detailed illustrations, and entertaining anecdotes, Young reveals the Fizzics behind these familiar—yet surprising—objects.

Reviews

Reviews

A technological history perfect for science and general-interest collections alike.

This book fills a gap in the literature, describing everyday phenomena that are seldom treated in similar books.

A friendly foray into the humble bubble, from honeycombs and soaps to sunset flashes, written by a physicist in the field.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
5.5
x
8.5
Pages
136
ISBN
9780801898921
Illustration Description
10 color photos, 42 halftones, 22 line drawings
Subject
Table of Contents

Preface
Prologue
1. The Physics of Fizzy: Gas Bubbles in Liquid
Bubbles in Beer and Volcanoes
The Ins and Outs of Bubble Oscillations
Springboard and Platform Diving
Propellers, Pumps, and Porpoises
Knuckle

Preface
Prologue
1. The Physics of Fizzy: Gas Bubbles in Liquid
Bubbles in Beer and Volcanoes
The Ins and Outs of Bubble Oscillations
Springboard and Platform Diving
Propellers, Pumps, and Porpoises
Knuckle Cracking
Dams
Cartesian Divers
Bubbles in Your Bubbly
The Ascent of Sap in Trees
Ceramic Bubbles
White- Water Physics
2. Raining Cats and Dogs: Liquid Droplets in a Gas
Faucet Physics
Spider's Web
Liquid-Drop Model of the Atomic Nucleus
The Swirl of Bath Water
Morning Dew
Acid Rain
Bubble Chambers and Atom Smashers
Clouds
Thunder and Lightning
Snow
Hail
Vapor Trails
The Rainbow
Halos
Glories
The Green Flash
The Blue Sky
3. The Perfect Pint: The Science of Foams
Liquid Foams
Free-Fighting Foams
Honeycombs and Mattresses
Bones
Mining Foams
Foams on the Farm
4. Where There's Life, There's Soap: The Science of Surface Tension
Soap Bubbles
Coffee Rings
Soap Molecules
The Bubble That Lived
The Soapy Computer
Bubble Raft
Anti-Bubbles
Feeling the Tension
Record-Breaking Bubbles
5. Poetry in the Ocean: Bubbles in the Sea
A Storm at Sea
Bubble Nets
Fish-Killing Bubbled
Bubblese Hiding Mines
6. What Light from Yonder Bubble Breaks?
Sonoluminescence
The Star in the Jar
Liquid Light
Light from Breaking Glass
Sonoluminescence in Space
7. In the Operating Theatre: Medical Bubbles
Cleaning a Wound
The Bends
Bubbles in the Blood
Bubbles in the Bladder
Designer Bubbles
Epilogue
Glossary
References
Index

Author Bio
Featured Contributor

F. Ronald Young

F. Ronald Young, a retired senior lecturer in physics from Watford Technical College, is an authority in bubble-related science and author of Cavitation and Sonoluminescence.