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The Science of Lighting a City

Electricity in Action
by Jim Whiting
32p. 978-1-42963-954-5.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3-4 Blurring the line between science and technology, these presentations explain in resolutely nontechnical language how physical principles figure into familiar events and phenomena. In "Home Run", for instance, diagrams show the different ways in which fastballs and curveballs interact with the air, and the author describes how kinetic energy is both transferred and absorbed when bat meets ball. Color photos depicting (identifiable but unnamed) professional athletes and musicians in action accompany the lively texts, and directions for simple demonstrations appear in occasional sidebars. Flaws include three mentions of top fuel dragsters in "Race Car" but no picture of one, a false claim in "Baseball" that spin can make a pitch rise, and an invitation to readers in "Electricity" to trace household wiring, but no cautionary note. Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
Hitting uses principles of physics to explain what happens when a baseball pitcher's and batter's actions together result in a home run. Lighting describes the science and engineering required to generate and transmit electrical power. Captioned photos and diagrams extend the texts; a few practical exercises may engage readers. Occasional imprecisions slightly mar the offerings. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Action Science titles: The Science of Hitting a Home Run and The Science of Lighting a City.

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