Back of the Envelope. - Physics

Physicists often use "back-of-the-envelope" estimates to check whether or not an idea might be right. This compilation of 101 examples of backof-the-envelope calculations celebrates a quantitative approach to solving physics problems. Drawing on a lifetime of physics research and nearly three decades as the editor of The PhysicsTeacher, Clifford Swartz provides simple, approximate solutions to physics problems that span a broad range of topics. Could you lose weight on a diet of ice cubes ? How can a fakir lie on a bed of nails without getting huit ? Does draining water in the northern hemisphere really swirl in a different direction than its counterpart below the equator ? In each case ; only a few lines of arithmetic and some natural constants are needed to approximate a solution. Covering such subjects as astronomy, magnetism, optics, sound, heat, mechanics, waves, and electricity, the book provides a rich source of material for teachers and anyone interested in the physics of everyday life.