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Electricity might seem like a modern convenience that provides us with light, heat, communications, and power, but readers will learn about the history of electricity, from its ancient discovery to the present. The text includes a full chapter extolling the important contributions by the one and only Benjamin Franklin and a handy timeline for visual reinforcement. In this instructive volume, readers learn how electricity is produced, whether it's simple static electricity, bolts of lightning, or the movement of ions. Step-by-step projects give readers the chance to see new concepts in action.

We often automatically equate heat with temperature to such a degree that we may not take the time to consider what heat really is. Heat refers to the energy that is transferred from one body to another that is at a lower temperature. This transfer occurs often without us knowing it, but it is ever-present and crucial to all life. This volume examines the basics of heat and the related concept of temperature. Detailed diagrams help illustrate such concepts as specific heat capacity and latent heat. Clear text explains the difference between conduction, convection, and radiation, as well as emitters, absorbers, and more.

Though we take light for granted, the world's greatest scientists have long puzzled over its nature, properties, and behavior. Its incredible speed, mysterious frequency, relationship to color, form of travel, and uncanny ability to reflect, refract, diffract, and be absorbed altogether make light the ever-elusive quarry of science's greatest hunters of knowledge and understanding. This is the enthralling account of their investigations and discoveries, their conclusive insights and ongoing questions, enhanced by full-color photographs and explanatory visual aids. If you thought you knew everything there is to know about light, think again and read on.

Mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with forces and movement. Aligned to the science curriculum, this stimulating volume explores topics such as measurement, mass and weight, falling objects, force and acceleration, stability and equilibrium, energy, vectors and scalars, work and power, loads and levers, inclines and friction, and pulleys and gears. Nine projects help readers grasp a key scientific principle, such as cheating the force of gravity, inertia, and centripetal force. The text includes a chapter on Nicolas Copernicus, who developed the heliocentric model of the universe. Colorful diagrams explain certain concepts and the workings of machines.