A Scientist at the Seashore
by James S. Trefil
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Description
A noted physicist and popular science writer heads for the beach to answer common and uncommon questions about the ocean. James S. Trefil, author of Dover Publications' The Moment of Creation: Big Bang Physics from Before the First Millisecond to the Present Universe, explains why the sea is salty, how bubbles form on the water's surface, where waves come from, and other curiosities of the marine world. Dr. Trefil draws upon his unique gift for clarifying complex scientific principles and show more the theories behind them to present a narrative that is clear, accessible, and utterly compelling. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
What a delightful book. Although it is a layman's view of science, it is almost philosophical in how the author takes a day at the beach as the jumping off point for such a wide variety of topics as nuclear spin and plate tectonics.
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Best Beach Reads
99 works; 61 members
Books That Changed Our Perspective
423 works; 168 members
Author Information
59+ Works 5,207 Members
James Trefil was born in Chicago and educated at the University of Illinois, Oxford University, and Stanford University, where he earned a Ph.D. in physics. Currently Clarence H. Robinson Professor of physics at George Mason University, he is among the well-respected scientists who have the skill to translate physics for the general reader into show more prose worthy of an English major. For example, his "meditation trilogy," described below, recounts interesting examples, clear explanations, and the wonder of science in Trefil's beautiful and lively language. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- A Scientist at the Seashore
- Original publication date
- 1984
Classifications
- Genres
- Science & Nature, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 530 — Natural sciences & mathematics Physics Physics
- LCC
- QC28 .T67 — Science Physics Physics General
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 144
- Popularity
- 226,610
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.92)
- Languages
- English, German, Korean, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 3
