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Math and Science Without Tears: Physical Sciences

Teaching and learning math and science through sports, movies, comics, art, and more.

Good Reads

The Chemistry of Alchemy: From Dragon's Blood to Donkey Dung; How Chemistry Was Forged by Cathy Cobb, Monty L. Fetterolf, and Harold Goldwhite is a very readable story of the alchemists through the ages who worked to make gold from base metals. Their efforts included a number of significant contributions to chemical sciences. This fascinating book includes twenty experiments you can do at home. QD13 C63 2014.

Teaching Ideas

Green Chemistry Education: Changing the Course of Chemistry. QD49.5 G74 2009.
ACS Symposium papers on ideas for teachingt green chemistry to undergraduates.

Hand me a Test Tube, Igor

Alexander, Stephen. The Jazz of Physics: The Secret Link Between Music and the Structure of the Universe. QB981 A54 2016.

Amusement Park Physics. QC32 A48 1994

Cavelos, Jeanne. The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicist's Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Roots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books, QB500 C38 2000b.

Chemistry World Podcasts. Audio segments on everything from why isoamyl can ruin home brewed beer to the story behind every element in the periodic table

Clegg, Brian. How to Build a Time Machine: The Real Science of Time Travel. QC173.59 S65 C54 2011.

Clegg, Brian. Light Years and Time Travel: An Exploration of Mankind's Enduring Fascination with Light. QC358.5 C54 2001.

Cobb, Cathy. The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things. QD35 C56 2010.

Cross, Rod. Physics of Baseball & Softball. QC26 C76 2011.

Cross, Rod. Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, and Bounce. 2005.

Downie, N. A. Exploding Disk Canons, Slimemobiles, and 32 Other Projects for Saturday Science. Q182.3 D66 2006.

Education in Racing Segment with Mark Rice. videorecording. Stock Car Racing Collection Video 57. Learning math and physics through racing.

Ehrlich, Robert. The Cosmological Milk Shake: A Semi-Serious Look at the Size of Things. QC75 E37 1994.

Ehrlich, Robert. Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations. QC33 E54 1990

Ehrlich, Robert. What If You Could Unscramble an Egg? Q173 E47 1996

Fritzsch, Harald. Microcosmos: The World of Elementary Particles. Fictional Discussions between Einstein, Newton, and Gell-Mann. QC793.26 F75413 2014.

Fury, Shawn. Rise and Fire: The Origins, Science, and Evolution of the Jump Shot--And HOw it Transformed Basketball Forever. GV889 F87 2016.

Gott, J. Richard. Time Travel in Einstein's Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel through Time. QC173.59 S65 G67 2001.

Goff, John Eric. Gold Medal Physics: The Science of Sports. 2010. Also available in print, GV557 G64 2010.

Halpern, Paul. What's Science Ever Done for Us? What The Simpsons Can Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life and the Universe. A162 H3514 2007.

How Change Happens: Breaking the "Teach as You Were Taught" Cycle in Science and Math. Streaming video showcases innovative teaching techniques at Hampshire College, University of Massachusetts.

Kakalios, James. The Physics of Superheroes. QC23.2 K35 2005.

Kimball, John. Physics Curiosities, Oddities, and Novelties. QC24.6 K56 2015. Interesting ways to teach physics concepts.

Krauss, Lawrence Maxwell. Hiding in the Mirror: The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions. QC39 K73 2005.

Krauss, Lawrence M. The Physics of Star Trek. Also available in print, QB500 K65 2007, and as an audio book, QB500 K652 1996 Cassette (2d floor).

LaFave, Norman J. You Want Me to Teach What? Sure-Fire Methods for Teaching Physical Science and Math. 2012.

Learn Chemistry. Royal Society of Chemistry. A wide variety of teaching resources, from games to podcasts.

Maudlin,Tim. Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time. BD632 M38 2012.

Modinos, Antonis. From Aristotle to Schrodinger: The Curiosity of Physics. QC7 M56 2014. Good for teaching undergraduate physics courses.

Moore, Ben. Elephants in Space: The Past, Present and Future of Life and the Universe. QB981 M66 2014.

Nahin, Paul J. In Prise of Simple Physics: The Science and Mathematics Behind Everyday Questions. QC21.3 N34 2016.

NOVA's Physics Blog: The Nature of Reality. High production value blog with writings on many aspects of the physical world.

Physics.Org. Your Guide to Physics on the Web.

Physics to Go: Explore Physics on Your Own. An online magazine that presents physics images, activities, and information.

Pickover, Clifford A. Time: A Traveler's Guide. QC173.59 S65 P53 1998.

Povey, Thomas. Professor Povey's Perplexing Problems: Pre-University Physics and Maths Puzzles with Solutions. QA43 P68 2015.

Rolnick, William B. Remnants of the Fall: Revelations of Particle Secrets. 2003. Also available in paper, QC793.2 R653 2003.

Science360 Video. This National Science Foundation site has brief, well-done segments on biological and physical science topics.

Stewart, Ian. Calculating the Cosmos: How Mathematics Unveils the Universe. QB981 S74 2016.

Stocker, Jack, and Natalie Foster, eds. A Festival of Chemistry Entertainments. ACS Symposium Series 1153. QD37 F39 2013. Have fun and learn something! Humorous pieces range from weird records in CAS databases to chemistry in verse and song.

Takemura, Masaharu. The Manga Guide to Biochemistry. 2011.

Toomey, David M. The New Time Travelers: A Journey to the Frontiers of Physics. QC173.59 S65 T66 2007.

Van Riper, A. Bowdoin. Imagining Flight: Aviation and Popular Culture. TL553 V37 2004.

Varlamov, Andrey, and Lev Aslamazov. The Wonders of Physics. Also available in print, QC24.5 A8513 2001. Learn about physics through cooking spaghetti and making good coffee.

Wilk, Stephen R. How the Ray Gun got Its Zap; Odd Excursions into Optics. QC361 W55 2013. Fun adventures from rainbows to ray guns.

Wolke, Robert L. What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained. TX652 W642 2002. Followed by What Einstein told His Cook 2: The Sequel: Further Adventures in Kitchen Science. TX652 W642 2005.

Woodford, Chris. Atoms Under the Floorboards: The Surprising Science Hidden in Your Home. Q173 W795 2015.

The World of Chemistry. Series of short videos featuring computer technology and special effects on many aspects of chemistry.

Zobel, Dave. The Science of TV's The Big Bank Theory: Explanations Even Penny Would Understand: The Unauthorized Guide. PN1992.77 B485 Z63 2015.


 

 

 

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Suzanne Wise
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Appalachian State University
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tel: 828-262-2798

Curator of the Stock Car Racing Collection