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OverviewEver wonder how a graceful and slender bridge can support enormous loads over truly astonishing spans? Why domes and free-standing arches survive earthquakes that flatten the rest of a city? Physicist Mark Denny looks at the large structures around us-tall buildings, long bridges, and big dams-and explains how they were designed and built and why they sometimes collapse, topple, or burst. Denny uses clear, accessible language to explain the physics behind such iconic structures as the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, the Forth Rail Bridge in Edinburgh, and Hoover Dam. His friendly approach allows readers to appreciate the core principles that keep these engineering marvels upright without having to master complex mathematical equations. Employing history, humor, and simple physics to consider such topics as when to use screws or nails, what trusses are, why iron beams are often I-shaped, and why medieval cathedrals have buttresses, Denny succeeds once again in making physics fun. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Mark DennyPublisher: Johns Hopkins University Press Imprint: Johns Hopkins University Press Dimensions: Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 22.90cm Weight: 0.454kg ISBN: 9780801894374ISBN 10: 0801894379 Pages: 280 Publication Date: 02 August 2010 Recommended Age: From 13 Audience: College/higher education , Tertiary & Higher Education Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Out of stock ![]() The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available. Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Heavyweight Engineering 1. Building Blocks 2. Truss in All Things 3. Towers of Strength 4. Arches and Domes 5. A Bridge Too Far 6. Dam It 7. The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall Afterword: Highbrow Engineering, Heavyweight Art Technical Appendix Glossary Bibliography IndexReviewsDenny's wry humor is fun to read and made me laugh out loud. - Mark Kidger, author of Astronomical Enigmas Denny largely sheds the complexity of mathematical constructs, distilling their most salient features into a more qualitative understanding of radar and sonar systems. - Choice Indeed, Denny's writing is anything but dry and boring. He adeptly explains complex subject matter and does so with relatively simple language and minimal use of symbolic notation. - Bat Research News Author InformationAuthor Website: http://markdenny.shawwebspace.ca/After earning a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Edinburgh University, Mark Denny pursued research at Oxford University from 1981 to 1984, then moved into a career in industry. He is the author of Ingenium: Five Machines That Changed the World; Blip, Ping, and Buzz: Making Sense of Radar and Sonar; Float Your Boat! The Evolution and Science of Sailing; and Froth! The Science of Beer, all of which are published by Johns Hopkins. Denny is now semi-retired and lives on Vancouver Island. Tab Content 6Author Website: http://markdenny.shawwebspace.ca/Countries AvailableAll regions |