Why cats land on their feet, and 76 other physical paradoxes and puzzles (Q2884484)

The present book can serve as a short Bible for the lovers of physics problems with a flavor of paradox. It is an excellent proof for the role of physical intuition in solving a problem: namely, the best guide through a forest of computations.NEWLINENEWLINEAn interesting ``classification'' of physics puzzles can be detected in the titles of chapters: Outer space paradoxes; Paradoxes with spinning water; Floating and diving paradoxes; Flows and jets; Moving experiences: bikes, gymnastics, rockets; Paradoxes with the Coriolis force; Centrifugal paradoxes; Gyroscopic paradoxes; Some heat stuff and cool things; Two perpetual motion machines; Sailing and gliding; The flipping cat and the spinning Earth, and a last chapter of Miscellaneous. The style of presentation is very fun and it is important to note that several times a hint is useful in detecting the correct answer.NEWLINENEWLINEMost of the book should be accessible to readers without formal background in Physics. Anyway, a number of ten short lessons are included in a final Appendix. It is also worthy to mention that although the author is professor of mathematics at Pennsylvania State University, the mathematics included here does not go beyond elementary algebra and the basic of calculus. A large number of puzzles are invented by the author and this fact strongly recommends this fascinating book.