Science matters : achieving scientific literacy / Robert M. Hazen and James Trefil.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hazen, Robert M., 1948-

Contributor:

Trefil, James, 1938-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--Popular works.

Science.

Physical Description:

xxii, 360 pages : illustrations, map ; 21 cm

Edition:

Second Anchor Books edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Anchor Books, 2009.

Summary:

Knowledge of the basic ideas and principles of science is fundamental to cultural literacy. But most books on science are often too obscure or too specialized to do the general reader much good.

Science Matters is a rare exception-a science book that is informative enough to be a popular textbook for introductory courses in high school and college, and yet free of scientific jargon and complicated mathematics. And now, this classic reference book has been revised and expanded for the first time in nearly two decades, so that readers can enjoy Hazen and Trefil's refreshingly accessible explanations of the most recent developments in science, from particle physics to biotechnology.

Contents:

1 Knowing The universe is regular and predictable 3

2 Energy Energy is conserved and always goes from more useful to less useful forms 26

3 Electricity and Magnetism Electricity and magnetism are two aspects of the same force 44

4 The Atom All matter is made of atoms 67

5 The World of the Quantum Everything comes in discrete units and you can't measure anything without changing it 80

6 Chemical Bonding Atoms are bound by electron glue 94

7 Atomic Architecture The way a material behaves depends on how its atoms are arranged 115

8 Nuclear Physics Nuclear energy comes from the conversion of mass 137

9 The Fundamental Structure of Matter All matter is really made of quarks and leptons 153

10 Astronomy Stars experience a cycle of birth and death 165

11 The Cosmos The universe was born at a specific time in the past, and it has been expanding ever since 182

12 Relativity Every observer sees the same laws of nature 194

13 The Restless Earth Earth's surface is constantly changing, and no feature on Earth is permanent 215

14 Earth Cycles Earth operates in cycles 233

15 The Ladder of Life All living things are made from cells, the chemical factories of life 251

16 The Code of Life All life is based on the same genetic code 273

17 Biotechnology All life is based on the same chemistry and genetic code 292

18 Evolution All forms of life evolved by natural selection 304

19 Ecosystems All life is connected 326.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

9780307454584

0307454584

OCLC:

264044704