Science Department Manasquan High School

Physics Honors Summer Reading List

Each student enrolled in either the Fall or Spring Honors program is required to read one (1) of the books listed below and write a book report of three to five pages that will be due on the first day of school in September. Please note, even if you are enrolled in the Spring Course your report is due on the first day of school in September. Your report must be typed.

Journey Across the Subatomic Cosmos is a non-fiction book by Isaac Asimov and published in 1992. In it, Asimov presents the atom and subatomic particles in a historical context, beginning with Democritus' original thought experiments and theory of atomism, and ending with then-current knowledge of the fundamental particles. Isaac Asimov , D. F. Bach, Atom: Journey Across the Subatomic Cosmos, Plume; Reprint edition (August 1, 1992), ISBN 0-452-26834-6

A Brief History of Time is a popular science book written by Professor Stephen Hawking and first published in 1988. It rapidly became a best-seller, and had sold 9 million copies by 2002. It was also on the London Sunday Times best-seller list for 237 weeks.Hawking, Stephen (1988). A Brief History of Time. Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553- 38016- ISBN-10: 0387260056 8.

A Briefer History of Time 2005, is a popular-science book from the English physicist Stephen Hawking and the American physicist Leonard Mlodinow. It is an update and rewrite of Hawking's 1988 A Brief History of Time. In this book Hawking and Mlodinow try to present quantum mechanics, string theory, and other topics in an easy way. The book also informs the reader of new frontiers of science since Hawking's previous book. ISBN 0-553-80436-7)

Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy (1994) is a popular science book by Kip Thorne. It provides a good illustrated overview of the history and development of black hole theory up until the early 1990s. The main part of the book is just over five hundred pages long. The remaining ninety pages provides several sets of reference indexes for people, papers and technical footnotes. It is available in paperback and has a foreword by Stephen Hawking. This book is unique in combining understandable scientific information with the colorful history of its discovery, and inspires by reminding us of the potential of humanity. Thorne, Kip (1994). Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy. W W Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393- 31276-3

Chaos: Making A New Science is the best-selling book by James Gleick that first introduced the principles and early development of chaos theory to the public. It was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1987. ISBN-10: 0140092501 The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav is a popular new age book from 1979 about quantum physics interpretations. The subject is described in non-mathematical terms to enable the widest possible readership to grasp the trends in physics research and theory current as of the mid-1970s. Because the book came out in 1979, before the rise of string theory, it does not deal with the latest physics, although it remains interesting with respect to the philosophical commonality it sees between western science and eastern mysticism. The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics (1979). New York: William Morrow and Company, hardcover: ISBN 0-688-03402-0, paperback: ISBN 0-688-08402-8, 352 p.

A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom Down is a 2005 physics book by Robert Laughlin, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. It argues against the overuse of reductionism in fields such as string theory, and emphasizes that the future of physics research is in the study of emergence. ISBN-10: 0465038298

The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory is a book by Brian Greene published in 2000 which introduces string theory and provides a comprehensive though non-technical assessment of the theory and some of its shortcomings. The Elegant Universe was adapted for a three hour program in two parts for television broadcast in late 2003 on the PBS series NOVA. ISBN 0-375- 70811-1

Fear of Physics: A Guide for the Perplexed (Paperback) by Lawrence M. Krauss 1994. Krauss ( Cosmic Strings ), who teaches physics at Yale University, delivers a three-part lecture for lay readers on today's dominant research questions in theoretical physics. In six broad-ranging chapters with such titles as "The Art of Numbers" and "The Search for Symmetry," he examines and explains "the tools that guide physicists in their ." The accomplishments and views of such giants of modern physics as Einstein, Feynman and Heisenberg are used to illustrate the inventiveness required of those in the field. While Krauss acknowledges that this is a limited selection of ideas--the "hidden realities" of physics, not its stuff--he nonetheless serves quantum mechanics well. ISBN-10: 0465023673

The Flying Circus of Physics by Jearl Walker (1975, published by John Wiley and Sons, second edition in 2006), is a book that poses (and answers) about a thousand questions concerned with everyday physics. The emphasis is strongly on phenomena that might be encountered in one's daily life. ISBN-10: 0471762733

From Clockwork to Crapshoot: A History of Physics (2007) by Roger G. Newton. Science is about 6000 years old while physics emerged as a distinct branch some 2500 years ago. As scientists discovered virtually countless facts about the world during this great span of time, the manner in which they explained the underlying structure of that world underwent a philosophical evolution. From Clockwork to Crapshoot provides the perspective needed to understand contemporary developments in physics in relation to philosophical traditions as far back as ancient Greece. Publisher:Belknap Press Publication Date:January 2007. ISBN:9780674023376 Great Ideas in Physics by Alan P Lightman (Paperback - Jun 26, 2000) What does it mean to say that time and space are relative? How can an electron be in two places at once? For anyone who wants a basic understanding of the physical processes that define addition to explaining physics, he brings in relevant passages from philosophy and literature to demonstrate how these great ideas have impacted the world of thought. ISBN-10: 0071357386

The Isaac Newton School of Driving: Physics and Your Car by Barry Parker 2003. "Parker grew up a mechanic's son and is as comfortable discussing gear sets and weight transfer as he is explaining the formula for determining the force of drag on a vehicle at any given speed. You don't need to be an engineer to read and enjoy Parker's often entertaining book that covers everything from the basics of engines and electronics to crashes and congestion. And after learning about Wd=Fh/R, you will likely be a better driver. ISBN-10: 0801874173

It's About Time: Understanding Einstein's Relativity (Hardcover) by N. David Mermin 1995. According to an old publishing saw, every equation included in a book decreases its sales. This one attempts to defy convention. The product of Mermin's career teaching the subject to nonscience majors, its audience will be readers who are aware that near the speed of light, dimensions shrink, time slows, and mass increases infinitely but who may not know why. Assuring them that only high school-level algebra and geometry are required, Mermin begins gently with verbal descriptions of a frame of reference. The equations debut with his discussion of moving frames of reference, which at the speeds of our everyday world are easy to digest. The difficult, counterintuitive part is grasping the implications for moving frames of the absolute constancy of the speed of light. Nobody did until Einstein's 1905 paper, "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies." Mermin's dozens of diagrams illustrate the chain of reasoning that arrives at Einstein's startling discovery that mass is equivalent to energy. There's a profound difference between knowing about something, and knowing it, and Mermin succeeds at instilling the latter. ISBN-10: 0691122016

Mad About Physics: Braintwisters, Paradoxes, and Curiosities by Christopher Jargodzki and Franklin Potter (Paperback - Nov 21, 2000). This entertaining book is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in what makes the world work the way it does. The question-and-answer format makes for easy comprehension, and the authors' explanations of even the most complicated phenomena are always clear and precise. Readers for whom the term science book conjures up memories of school textbooks will be pleasantly surprised by this volume's readability. Although some of the 397 questions discuss complex subjects, others address such seemingly mundane issues as why the little plastic "drinking bird" toy keeps on drinking and why, if you pay close attention, you can see more meteors near morning than in the middle of the night. And many of the answers are downright stunning, at least for general readers: a pound of feathers, for instance, really does weigh more than a pound of iron. The book's balance between the simple and the complex means it should appeal to all readers, no matter what their degree of expertise. ISBN-10: 0471569615 Making Physics: A Biography of Brookhaven National Laboratory, 1946-1972 (Hardcover) 1999. A detailed, technical account of the first 25 years of Brookhaven National Laboratory, describing not only the evolution of several groundbreaking projects, but also the personalities and politics that helped shape this community of scientists. Brookhaven historian Crease (Philosophy/SUNY, Stony Brook) begins his narrative at Columbia University in the months following WWII. I.I. Rabi, the ``driving force'' in the physics department and a key figure in the Manhattan Project, came to the conclusion that funding a research reactor would require both cooperation from several universities and government assistance. This idea, circulated among key individuals from nine universities along the East Coast, quickly became a plan for a national laboratory. By the beginning of 1947, a military site in rural Long Island, deemed ``equally inaccessible to everybody,'' was reluctantly selected, and the work of transforming it into a world-class research facility began. Crease methodically describes four large projects at Brookhaven, from initial design and construction to operation and eventual obsolescence. The narrative explores not only the scientific instruments, but the community of scientists that quickly formed at Brookhaven. ISBN-10: 0226120171

Physics For the Rest of Us : Ten Basic Ideas ofTwentieth-Century Physics that Everyone Should Know... and How They Have Shaped our Culture and Consciousness by Roger S. Jones (Paperback - Sep 1, 1993) An introduction to basic concepts of modern physics and their relation to everyday life. Ten basic ideas of 20th-century physics that everyone should know... and how they have shaped our culture and consciousness. ISBN- 10: 0809237164

Physics of Everyday Phenomena by Tom Griffith 2003 The Physics of Everyday Phenomena introduces students to the basic concepts of physics using examples of common occurrences. Intended for use in a one-semester or two-quarter course in conceptual physics, this book is written in a narrative style, frequently using questions designed to draw the reader into a dialogue about the ideas of physics. This inclusive style allows the book to be used by anyone interested in exploring the nature of physics and explanations of everyday physical phenomena. ISBN-10: 0697064654

The Physics of Baseball Adair Robert Kemp. An exceptional volume about some of the physical principles involved in the game of baseball. The flight of the ball, pitching, batting, and the properties of bats are discussed in nontechnical language that can be understood by young adults familiar with introductory physics. Short chapters, which include clear and helpful diagrams, each conclude with technical notes that can be skipped or studied closely, depending on readers' interests. Baseball players or fans and budding physicists should be intrigued by Adair's explanations of the effect of the stitching on the distance the ball travels, of the relative merits of wooden and aluminum bats, and of why spitting on the ball does make a difference. This is a book that makes science real, relevant, and fun without being gimmicky or overly simplistic. New York Harper Perennial, 1994. ISBN-10-0060084367

The Physics of Basketball is a book by John Fontanella first published on November 15, 2006 that explores the scientific side of basketball. It is written from the perspective of a fan of the game and then through the eyes of a physicist. Media type Print (Hardcover) Pages 168 ISBN ISBN 0-8018-8513-2

The Physics of Football: Discover the Science of Bone-Crunching Hits, Soaring Field Goals, and Awe-Inspiring Passes. by Timothy Gay (Paperback - Aug 16, 2005) Do you cringe when a linebacker flattens a quarterback? Hold your breath when a field goal sails toward the goalpost? Watch in amazement as a touchdown pass spirals down the field? Behind those big hits, long kicks, and sensational throws is a science that will give you a whole new perspective on the game of football. A combination of Stephen Hawking and Mike Ditka, physicist and football fan Timothy Gay breaks down the fundamental laws of physics that govern America's most exciting spectator sport. To illustrate the science behind the game, he highlights some of football's recent memorable moments, along with legendary feats from the likes of Franco Harris and Joe Montana. ISBN-10: 0060826347

The Physics of Hockey by Alain Haché (Hardcover - Oct 17, 2002) Haché brings to this informative study the perspective of a physicist (he is assistant professor of physics at the University of Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada) and amateur hockey player (goalie). He stints on neither the physics, which he presents clearly, nor the hockey, making the reader feel like going to a game. Hockey, he says, perhaps involves more physics than any other sport. "Because it is played on ice, we need to take into account elements of and molecular physics. Skating makes use of a great deal of mechanics, as does shooting. Puck trajectories are influenced by air drag and ice friction, which involve fluid dynamics. And because hockey is a contact sport, the physics of collisions is also part of the game. ISBN-10: 0801870712

The Physics of Star Trek is a 1995 nonfiction book by Case Western Reserve University professor Lawrence M. Krauss. It discusses the physics involved in various concepts and objects described in the Star Trek universe. He investigates the possibility of such things as inertial dampers and warp drive, and whether physics as we know it would allow such inventions. He also discusses time travel, light speed, pure energy beings, wormholes, and other concepts. The book includes a foreword by astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.. The Physics of Star Trek was met with generally positive reviews. It became a national bestseller and sold more than 200,000 copies in the United States. As of 1998, it was being translated into 13 different languages. It was also the basis of a BBC television production. Publisher Harper Perennial Released 1995 Media type Print (Hardcover and Paperback) Pages 208 ISBN 978-0-465-00559-8, hardcover. ISBN 978-0-06-097710-8, softcover.

The Physics of Superheroes 2005 (Paperback) by James Kakalios. If superheroes stepped off the comic book page or silver screen and into reality, could they actually work their wonders in a world constrained by the laws of physics? How strong would Superman have to be to “leap tall buildings in a single bound”? Could Storm of the X- Men possibly control the weather? And how many cheeseburgers would the Flash need to eat to be able to run at supersonic speeds? Face front, True Believer, and wonder no more! Because in The Physics of Superheroes acclaimed university professor James Kakalios shows that comic book heroes and villains get their physics right more often than you think. ISBN-10: 1592402429

Relativity, The Special and General Theory, A Clear Explanation That Anyone Can Understand. . How better to learn the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity than directly from their creator, Albert Einstein himself? In Relativity: The Special and the General Theory, Einstein describes the theories that made him famous, illuminating his case with numerous examples and a smattering of math (nothing more complex than high-school algebra). Einstein's book is not casual reading, but for those who appreciate his work without diving into the arcana of theoretical physics, Relativity will prove a stimulating read. Crown Publishing Co. 1995, ISBN 0- 87975-979-8

The Science of Soccer (Paperback) by John Wesson 2002. John Wesson has written here a unique book showing great skill in mathematics and physics, and a perfect knowledge of soccer and of its rules. This book should be read by anybody with a basic scientific background interested in ball games. ISBN-10: 0750308133

Secrets of the Old One: Einstein, 1905 (Hardcover) 2005 by Jeremy Bernstein. In just one year, 1905, Albert Einstein published four papers that transformed the field of physics and ushered in the modern world of science. Veteran science writer Bernstein examines each of these papers, attempting to explain their significance and provide a social and cultural context for them. Bernstein's task is a complex one given the nature of the physics involved, and his efforts come up short. On one hand, the book is peppered with mathematical formulas. Additionally, Bernstein provides minimal background in physics. making it unlikely that readers will be able to grasp either the import of the papers or their scientific context. On the other hand, while Bernstein does a better job of providing the social setting for Einstein's remarkable work, here, too, his minimalist approach leaves much to be desired. For example, Bernstein gives only the briefest discussion of Michele Besso, the sole person Einstein acknowledges in his paper on relativity. And Bernstein can natter on at length and irrelevantly about himself. Bernstein's title comes from Einstein's calling God "the Old One," but very few secrets are revealed in this short and frustrating volume. ISBN-10: 0387260056

Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness is a 1994 book by mathematical physicist Roger Penrose, and serves as a followup to his 1989 book The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds and The Laws of Physics. Publisher Oxford University Press, 1st edition Released 1994 (1st ed.) Media type Hardback Pages 457 pages ISBN 0-19-853978-9 (1st ed.)

The Trouble With Physics is a 2006 book by theoretical physicist Lee Smolin. The book strongly criticizes string theory and its prominence in contemporary theoretical physics. The book is also broadly concerned with the role of controversy and diversity of approaches in the ethics and process of science. It also focuses on the difficulties faced by current efforts at theories of unification of physics and approches to quantum gravity. Smolin suggests that physics has essentially entered a post-modern age where a unified theory may be unverifiable and consequently scientifically unknowable, calling into question the potential limits of scientific knowledge itself. ISBN-10: 0618551050

The Universe in a Nutshell is one of Stephen Hawking's latest books on theoretical physics. It explains to a general audience various matters relating to the Lucasian professor's work, such as Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem and P-branes (part of superstring theory in quantum mechanics). The Universe In A Nutshell is winner of The Aventis Prizes for Science Books 2002. The book is a sequel and has been created to update the public of developments since the multi-million-copy bestseller A Brief History of Time published in 1988. Publisher Bantam Spectra Released 2001 Pages 224 ISBN ISBN 0-553-80202-X

Warped Passages:Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions is a book by Lisa Randall, published in 2005, about particle physics in general and additional dimensions of space in particular. The book has made it to top 50 at amazon.com, making it the world's first successful book on theoretical physics by a female author. ISBN-10: 0060531096