Light And Optics (Physics in Our World)

Electromagnetic forces are fiendishly difficult to visualize, but this entry in the Physics in Our World series, part of the larger Facts On File Science Library, does a creditable job of shoring up the tricky theories with accessible, exciting facts and real-world technology. Opening chapters introduce the science behind light and optics, often backed up with technical sidebars; the rest of the book, in sections like "Light's Service to Life and Medicine," explores why readers should care, with enthusiastically presented examples ranging from photosynthesis to a futuristic vehicle propelled by light-sensitive sails. Not every metaphor is effectively deployed--there is a particularly muddled passage likening waves striking a lens to marching ants--but the fascinating applications cited will spur readers to find out more, whether by consulting a teacher or browsing the book and Web resources appended. Kirkland handles overlap among topics with particular grace, allowing researchers to easily dip into sections of interest. Jennifer Mattson

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