Christine McKinley - Physics for Rock Stars: Making the Laws of the Universe Work for You

A PERIGEE BOOK

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PHYSICS FOR ROCK STARS

Copyright 2014 by Christine McKinley

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eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-63009-9

An application to catalog this book has been submitted to the Library of Congress.

First edition: June 2014

Illustrations by Mark Nerys

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For Chuck

AUTHORS NOTE

In passages where it was not possible to get permission to use the names of friends and teachers, I have changed them to protect their identities. Otherwise, the biographical details are accurate.

I have included scenarios and experiments that are obviously dangerous because I know you, the reader, are smart enough not to actually try them. Thank you for considering your safety and using these as thought experiments only.

CONTENTS

The Scientific Method

Nature Abhors a Vacuum

The Necessity of Numbers

Conservation of Energy

The Chemistry of Attraction and Bonding

The Ideal Gas Law

The Equality of Gravity

Force and the Free Body Diagram

Mechanical Advantage

Friction

Motion and Momentum

Buoyancy

Fluids

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Waves

Phase Changes

Electricity and Magnetism

The Elusive Electron

Relativity

The Four Fundamental Forces

INTRODUCTION

Physics is the sexiest of the sciences. Sure, you could argue that biology is all about reproduction and chemistry has an intrinsically hot name, but when you get down the guiding principles of the universe, its all physics. The laws of motion, energy, gravity, and entropy rule. Literally. They trump all other laws and inform all other activity. Thats what makes physics sexy. It is firmly in charge.

It pays to be on the physics team. When you apply the basic laws of motion, energy, and gravity to your life, you will become smarter, more successful, and better looking than you already are. I know. Its hard to imagine how you will handle that with graceful humility, because you are already so darn adorable and clever, but physics can help you do that, too. A solid understanding of the laws of physics will not only help you execute a flawless stage dive and win a fist fight on top of a train, but it will also help you cultivate a balanced and sane personal life. I promise.

If you arent feeling particularly smart, successful, or sexy at this point in your life, the dependable laws of physics will be a great help to you. They offer structure, a safe place to land, and proof that this business of life can be figured out and navigated. That is the beginning of true comfort, grace, and success. My faith in physics comes from experience. The laws of physics guided me from a nervous seventh grader who smoked nonfiltered Camels and swore like an oil pipeline welder, to a career as an engineer, writer, TV host, and musician.

I totally understand if you didnt learn physics in high school. It is a very busy time in which you were experiencing changes in your body and learning many life skills, like how to calculate compound interest, make a left turn at an intersection, and French kissthe latter two at the same time. Its hard to find the mental space to pay attention in physics class. Even if you were paying attention, the teacher was certainly not talking about anything that related to your goals. You wanted to be a drummer, secret agent, or runway model. You didnt realize that the laws of physics really could prepare you for any career, even the ones without a brochure in the guidance counselors office.

Its Not Too Late for Your Science Crush

Appealing role models in science, math, and engineering can be a strong motivator for young people to choose scientific careers. I was lucky to have science teachers who lectured with the passion of traveling evangelical preachers. If you missed out on the chance to bond with a physics-loving mentor, its not too late. There are plenty of great scientists to worship and imitate.

First and foremost, of course, is Einstein. He traveled the world, challenged Fascists and religious zealots, and was quite the ladies man. And you may not know them all, but the other stars of physics are just as cool. The fiercely independent Galileo, opium chic Newton, rebellious Marie Curie, hilarious Feynman, and underwear model Niels Bohr. They didnt become famous, win Nobel Prizes, or have much younger lovers just because they were brilliant and devoted to their work. I believe they were successful because they understood and followed the laws of physics in every part of their lives. They understood that the playbook of the universe is already written out in detail. Studying this playbook was their passion.

So that you may better emulate these glamorous geniuses, I will help you understand and live by the laws of physics. In each chapter, Ill explain a physics concept the way it was introduced to me by my wonderful, quirky teachers at Carondelet High School, a Catholic institution for girls run by the enthusiastic Sisters of St. Joseph. Then I will show you how to apply that concept to your life as a rock star, secret agent, UN sniper, or Roller Derby MVP. I am qualified to do this because Im a mechanical engineer. Thats what we do. We take scientific concepts and make them useful.

Scientists and Engineers: Angels and Mercenaries

In the days of Da Vinci, there wasnt a distinction between a scientist and an engineer. (Heck, in Da Vincis day there wasnt even a distinction between scientist, artist, philosopher, and discus thrower.) These days, our educational and economical systems force us to pick a trackscientist or engineer. We can always jump the track when we feel like it, or take side trips into one anothers fields, but in general there is a division between these two disciplines. Here is a shortcut to understanding the difference: Scientists are tickled to explore the laws of nature without knowing exactly what theyre looking for. With their childlike wonder, white lab coats, and prolonged virginity they are a choir of awkward, pale angels. Engineers are the mercenaries of physics. We take the knowledge discovered by these dear scientists and make things humanity really needscar stereos, panty hose, and guided missiles.