200 puzzling physics problems. With hints and solutions (Q2753387)

This is a delightful book, which is both instructive and entertaining. The problems are restricted mainly to classical theories and relatively elementary mathematics but they provide plenty of deep problems. In fact the fact that the mathematics is restricted means that the solutions often involve creative modeling. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe topics covered include what was traditionally called mechanics (dynamics, statics, Newton's laws), electromagnetic theory, optics, elementary fluids, and atomic theory. For the latter topic some simple relativistic theory is used but quantum mechanics is omitted. Maybe this is regrettable, but perhaps it would be difficult to construct problems in quantum mechanics that did not rely on more sophisticated mathematics. The problems posed are often phrased in an entertaining way: ''What would be the high jump record on the Moon?'' is an example. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe book is divided into 3 parts: problems; hints; solution. Thus if one is baffled then the hints section gives a clue and one does not immediately need to cheat by going straight to the solution! Some of the problems are annotated with asterisks (one or two) to denote that they are especially difficult. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEAn example of one which has two asterisks is when Charlie, a student at university who knows calculus is shown how to do a problem by his younger sister who is still at school. One clue that is given in the question is that she is studying rotation in physics. It is therefore necessary to find an elementary way of applying a rotational model to what is a static problem and to get a neat solution without using calculus. Many of the problems like this are intriguing.