Ferrie's Statistical Physics for Babies uses simple language and pictures to introduce the topic of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.
He uses balls (atoms) in the diagrams and explains the concept of entropy by moving the balls from the left side to the right side.
In Statistical Physics for Babies, Ferrie uses balls also to help demonstrate and explain randomness, he adds balls of different colours to visually help readers to understand the concept of '...the number of different combinations entropy.'
The book looks at how when balls (atoms) move from one side to the other side that some combinations are more likely than others. If you have six balls 'There are six ways for one ball to be on the right.' while there are 15 ways for 2 balls or 20 ways for three balls to be on the right side. Hence it is more likely to see three balls on the left side and three balls on the right side or in simplistic scientific terms, the atoms are now evenly spread.
While the last few paragraphs might sound like gobbledegook to most of us, when you add the diagrams from this book to the conversation it helps crystallise the understanding of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.
Like the other books in the Baby University series, primary and high school students can benefit from using this book. It can help all age groups understand the basic concepts, whether it is for the first time or a refresher.
I urge you to give Statistical Physics for Babies and the series Baby University a try.
Title: Statistical Physics for Babies
Author: Chris Ferrie
Publisher: Sourcebooks, $14.99
Publication Date: 15 December 2017
Format: Boardbook
ISBN: 9781492656272
For ages: 0 - 3
Type: Boardbook
