F. Ronald Young’s far-reaching survey of the humble bubble explores the complex behavior of these seemingly simple objects. If you stop to think about it, bubbles and droplets are the cornerstones of the world around us. They are the reason that dolphins cannot swim faster, that the sky is blue, and that coffee rings form. They are essential to knowing how atom smashers work, how detergents clean dishes, and how to pour a perfect pint.
Beyond these basics, Young shows how humans have put bubbles to use throughout history. Whether in technology—making fire-fighting foams and waterproof makeup—or in medicine—cleaning wounds and clarifying ultrasounds—bubbles are capable of more than most of us have imagined.
With easy-to-understand explanations, detailed illustrations, and entertaining anecdotes, Young reveals the Fizzics behind these familiar—yet surprising—objects.
F. Ronald Young, a retired senior lecturer in physics from Watford Technical College, is an authority in bubble-related science and author of Cavitation and Sonoluminescence.