An “extraordinary guide to the hidden secrets of modern man-made miracles . . . Highly recommended” —from the author of Froth!: The Science of Beer (Midwest Book Review). Ever wonder how a graceful and slender bridge can support enormous loads over truly astonishing spans? Why domes and free-standing arches survive earthquakes that flatten the rest of a city? Physicist Mark Denny looks at the large structures around us—tall buildings, long bridges, and big dams—and explains how they were designed and built and why they sometimes collapse, topple, or burst. Denny uses clear, accessible language to explain the physics behind such iconic structures as the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, the Forth Rail Bridge in Edinburgh, and Hoover Dam. His friendly approach allows readers to appreciate the core principles that keep these engineering marvels upright without having to master complex mathematical equations. Employing history, humor, and simple physics to consider such topics as when to use screws or nails, what trusses are, why iron beams are often I-shaped, and why medieval cathedrals have buttresses, Denny succeeds once again in making physics fun. Praise for Mark Denny “Denny’s wry humor is fun to read and made me laugh out loud.” —Mark Kidger, author of Astronomical Enigmas “Denny largely sheds the complexity of mathematical constructs, distilling their most salient features into a more qualitative understanding of radar and sonar systems.” —Choice “Indeed, Denny’s writing is anything but dry and boring. He adeptly explains complex subject matter and does so with relatively simple language and minimal use of symbolic notation.” —Bat Research News

Shows how to make and test a range of strong shapes, from triangles and trusses to bridges and domes. There are ideas for making collapsible structures, protective packaging, pop-ups and more.

From the Ancient Pyramids to the Eiffel Tower, get ready to take a close-up look at some awesome man-made structures. This unique, interactive book not only traces the history of the world’s most impressive, man-made mega structures from ancient times to the modern age, but also explores the science behind these incredible engineering feats. Discover the science of architecture behind different types of super structures, including bridges, domes and towers, then use this knowledge to have ago at creating your own from the model kit! Using card pieces, plastic connectors and string, you can make the different types of constructions – including an Egyptian pyramid, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower - and then conduct tests to see how they work!

Showcases the most ambitious, awe-inspiring and advanced engineered structures of the last 100 years.

Cubes, triangular prisms, nano-acorn, nano-centipedes, nanoshells, nano-whiskers. . . . Now that we can create nanoparticles in a wide variety of shapes and morphologies, comes the next challenge: finding ways to organize this collection of particles into larger and more complex systems. Nanoparticle Assemblies and Superstructures, edit

This is a beautifully photographed study of the world’s most extraordinary architectural feats. Readers can explore old favorites like the Empire State Building and new wonders like Taipei 101 and the Burj Dubai (now the world’s tallest building). Architectural details, engineering miracles, and drop-dead images drive home just how incredible these monster buildings are.

This book covers how the understanding, as well as controllability, of the quantum electronic properties of carbon structures can be improved through a combined study of structural geometry, electronic properties, and dynamics of resonating valence bonds. It elaborates varied properties such as growth mechanism, exotic transport properties, namely unusual geometry of microstructures mixed with electron distribution and spin properties in carbon. Transport mechanisms and new applications including hybrid quantum technology based on the superconducting diamond and diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are discussed. Features: • Includes the theoretical and experimental aspects of carbon physics, various carbon nanostructures, and simulations. • Covers growth of carbon superstructures and various applications of their tunable electronic properties. • Discusses how nanocarbon systems can be used in emerging technologies, including spintronic and quantum computing. • Focuses on spin-related features and spin transport including the Kondo effect, spin-charge separation, spin-phonon coupling, anomalous Hall effect, and Luttinger liquid features. • Explores carbon superstructure growth and their tunable electronic properties. This book is aimed at students, researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering, materials science, electronics, and quantum technology.