How to Dunk a Doughnut: Using Science in Everyday Life

by Dr Len Fisher (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2002

  $3.25

  In 1998 Len Fisher attracted world-wide attention with his experiments on the physics of biscuit dunking. These won him a spoof 'IgNobel Prize', a letter of commendation from the royal society and a nomination as 'an enemy of the people' by the Times newspaper. In this funny, fascinating and accessible book the author tells the true stories behind this and other projects, taking a scientific look at the familiar and the everday as a way of opening the door to science, and showing, from an insider's viewpoint, what it feels like to be a scientist, what things scientists do, why they do it and how they go about it. Scientists exploring the most commonplace and mundane phenomena have provided insight into some of the most profound scientific questions and uncovered some of nature's deepest laws - see Count Rumford, who discovered the principle of heat convection after burning his mouth on hot apple pie. We can in turn use these laws to understand and improve our performance in many everday activities, as How to Dunk a Doughnut shows, demonstrating the benefits of a more scientific approach to things as diverse as sport, DIY and sex.Along the way, we meet scientists from past and present and learn the solutions to many of modern life's most pressing problems, from the scientific way to add up a shopping bill, to how to use the laws of thermodynamics to boil the perfect egg.
• Prizes: ','1','ChildrenBookAge: ','Book Overview: The hardback developed a cult following and reprinted twice within 2 months of publication \'You have to be very dedicated to science to dunk and eat 140 biscuits with a stainless steel tube thrust up your nose, chewing for a specified count, while a colleague presses buttons to record and analyse the results. This is how people win IgNobel prizes and indeed physicist Len Fisher is an Iglaureate. What is fascinating in Fisher\'s book is the sheer number of mysteries inherent in daily life\' New Scientist \'[Fisher] has the refreshing enthusiasm of a kid with a chemistry set. For him, Physics is Fun is not so much a school text book, it\'s more a statement of intent. How to Dunk a Doughnut might otherwise be described as everything you wanted to know about physics but were too afraid to ask \' Herald','Nutty science - we love it. Why bother figuring it out when you can try it out? Len Fisher even explains the physics of sex - think rocket launcher. THE TIMES Full marks to Mr Fisher for at least trying to make science fun. THE DAILY MAIL This erudite book carries its learning lightly. It is difficult not to be charmed. TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT Wryly funny but informative book... well worth an afternoon of anyone\'s time. FOCUS Too many popular science book lack any practical output... Fisher is different. His explanations are directed at the important things: how to boil a perfect egg, the physics of sex, and why some vegetables absorb more gravy than others. THE HERALD','Born in 1942, Len Fisher received a PhD from the University of New South Wales. He has written around eighty scientific papers and book chapters on surface science, food science, chemical engineering, scientific instrumentation and the applications of physics to biology. He is currently honorary research fellow at the University of Bristol.');">

  Used

  Paperback
  2003

  $3.25

  Science is all around us. In this brilliant, entertaining book, Len Fisher provides scientific answers to familiar questions such as how to boil the perfect egg, how to catch a ball, the physics of sex, and why some vegetables absorb more gravy than others...In doing so, he reveals the world of the scientist - how they think, what they do, and how they go about doing it - proving that even the most commonplace activities can be used as a key to understanding the laws of nature and that experimental science can be fun!