Clouds in a Glass of Beer Simple Experiments in Atmospheric Physics

by Bohren, Craig F.

• ISBN13: 9780486788173
• ISBN10: 0486788172
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-12-19
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Ever wonder why steam rises from a bowl of hot soup or why a greenhouse retains heat? And have you ever puzzled over the real meaning of "once in a blue moon" or why sand is darker when it's wet than when it's dry? And just why, exactly, do bubbles appear in a glass of beer when you add salt to it?
These and many other baffling questions are answered in this engaging book by a physics professor at Pennsylvania State University. Ranging from playful to serious, Professor Bohren's lively and entertaining discussions employ a liberal mixture of humor and anecdote to debunk a host of scientific myths and render science lessons thoroughly understandable. Chapters include "On a Clear Day You Can't See Forever," "A Murder in Ceylon." "The Green Flash," "Physics on a Manure Heap," " Indoor Rainbows," and "Multiple Scattering at the Breakfast Table."
"The book rings with a unifying tone: the science of the everyday physical world is fun. And so is the book," writes Jearl Walker, a member of the Physics Department at Cleveland State University. Beginning physics and general readers will be fascinated by the scientific knowledge gained from this work; and science teachers will find it a treasure trove of ideas for simple, vivid classroom demonstrations.

Table of Contents

1. Clouds in a Glass of Beer
2. "Genies in Jars, Clouds in Bottles, and a Bucket with a Hole in It"
3. "Happy Ducks, Like Happy People, Perform Best with Cool Heads"
4. Sugar and Spice: The Dirty Wet-Bulb Temperature
5. Mixing Clouds
6. Conceptions and Misconceptions of Pressure
7. Dew Drops on a Bathroom Mirror
8. A Murder in Ceylon
9. The Freezing of Lakes
10. The Greenhouse Effect
11. Black Clouds
12. Once in a Blue Moon
13. The Green Flash
14. Multiple Scattering at the Breakfast Table
15. Multiple Scattering at the Beach
16. On a Clear Day You Can't See Forever
17. A Serendipitous Iridescent Cloud
18. Physics on a Manure Heap: More about Black Clouds
19. Polarization of Skylight
20. Colors of the Sea
21. Indoor Rainbows
22. Why Rainbows Are Not Impossible in Winter
Selected Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading
Index