The Science of Spin: The Force Behind Everything From Falling Cats to Jet Engines

(Hardback)

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Description

Overlooked, under-explored and misunderstood this is the story of spin, the force which, quite literally, makes the world go round. In this comprehensive and wide-ranging book, Roland Ennos examines the seemingly infinite ways spin affects our lives, from the structure of galaxies to the way we walk. Artfully moving between astrophysics and anthropology, Ennos provides a riveting account of spins human history, charting the development of engineering and technology from the earliest prehistoric drills to the turbine engine. The Science of Spin brings physics back down to earth, zooming in on our own biomechanics, and revealing the surprising similarities between ballerinas and basketball players. Answering questions as disperse as why the solar system is the shape it is, to why cats always manage to land on their feet, The Science of Spin rekindles a childlike fascination with rotation and sheds light on this often overlooked, but crucial, area of life.

Reviews

'This is a wonderfully fascinating book with answers to so many everyday questions you never knew you needed to know. The explanations are lucid and so clear that the one thing it doesnt do is cause your head to spin.'

'An original and highly engaging insight into howour universe works, encompassing black holes, the cotton mills of the industrial revolution, the biomechanics of walking and more!'

Author Bio

Roland Ennos is a visiting professor of biological sciences at the University of Hull. His previous books include The Wood Age: How Wood Shaped the Whole of Human History and Trees: A Complete Guide to their Biology and Structure. He lives in Hull.