The Isaac Newton School of Driving: Physics and Your Car (Hardcover)

by Barry Parker (Author) "New cars, with their sleek, shiny, curved lines, are objects of intrigue, elegance, grace, and beauty..." (more)
Key Phrases: traction circle, slip angle, larger gear, The Isaac Newton School of Driving, United States, Checkered Flags (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Parker grew up a mechanic's son and is as comfortable discussing gear sets and weight transfer as he is explaining the formula for determining the force of drag on a vehicle at any given speed. You don't need to be an engineer to read and enjoy Parker's often entertaining book that covers everything from the basics of engines and electronics to crashes and congestion. And after learning about Wd=Fh/R, you will likely be a better driver. RATING: Three and 1/2 [out of four] helmets." -- Larry Edsall, Autoweek

"Parker's entertaining book is not a heavy tome replete with complex mathematical formulas -- nothing more complex than high school physics. What The Isaac Newton School of Driving answers is the annoying complaint every teacher or parent hears from a teenager: 'I'll never use all this (insert expletive) in real life!'." -- Terry Jackson, AMI Auto World Magazine

"Contains examples of practical technology that would certainly enhance and extend many courses... written in a lighthearted manner that is successful and appealing." -- Hal Harris, 21 C: Scanning the Future

"A comprehensive look at the fundamental elements of the driving experience... The author enlivens many difficult concepts with clear, comfortable explanations... Whether a reader is looking for simple applications or the physics of high performance racing vehicles, this book will make any reader pause and think about the science of their car and driving." -- Charles James, National Science Teachers Association Recommends

"Barry Parker has written an intriguing book... The Isaac Newton School of Driving has a definite flair and keeps the reader interested." -- Henry J. P. Smith, Industrial Physicist

"The discussions are clear and the physics is correct." -- Choice

"Parker writes with authority and humor about the expensive machines none of us can survive without for long. For high-school students Ph.D.'s, and anyone who wants to know how cars really work, this is an excellent book." -- Paul J. Nahin, author of Oliver Heaviside: The Life, Work, and Times of an Electrical Genius of the Victorian Age

"At last, a book about cars that goes beyond the usual basics and right into the heart of the matter. Barry Parker lucidly covers an impressive range of topics related to cars and driving, from engines and aerodynamics to traffic jams and futuristic trends. In it I learned more about my own vehicle than by reading the owner's manual! This book will surely find a wide audience." -- Alain Haché, author of The Physics of Hockey

"The Isaac Newton School of Driving has provided a wonderful overview of all the things that have to happen to get you there and back again safely. From the intricacies of the internal combustion engine to the dangers of head to head collisions, Barry Parker provides a great resource for automobile fans who want to understand science, and vice versa." -- Alan C. Tribble, author of A Tribble's Guide to Space

Product Description
For some people, driving is an art; for others, it's a science. At the Isaac Newton School of Driving, though, every car is a laboratory on wheels and every drive an exciting journey into the world of physics. As explained by renowned science writer and physics professor Barry Parker—whose father was a car mechanic and garage owner—almost every aspect of driving involves physics. A car's performance and handling relies on fundamental concepts such as force, momentum, and energy. Its ignition system depends on the principles of electricity and magnetism. Braking relies on friction—yet another basic scientific concept—and if the brakes fail, the resulting damage, too, can be predicted using physics.

Parker's first lesson describes the basic physics of driving: speed and acceleration; why you get thrown forward while braking or outward while turning; and why car advertisements boast about horsepower and torque. He goes on to discuss the thermodynamics of engines, and how they can be more fuel efficient; and what friction and traction are and how they keep a car's tires on the road, whether it's dry, wet, or icy. He also describes how simple laws of physics enable scientists to design aerodynamic cars and high-tech steering systems. Parker then explores the high-performance physics of auto racing, outlines how traffic accidents are reconstructed by police, uses chaos theory to explain why traffic jams happen, and describes what cars of the future might look like. Whether you drive a Pacer or a Porsche, The Isaac Newton School of Driving offers better—and better-informed—driving through physics.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (August 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801874173
• ISBN-13: 978-0801874178
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #297,249 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #20 in

  Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Driver's Education

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but could be better, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

In short, the idea of writing this book was an excellent one. The book's potential is tremendous. However, rating it fairly is a more difficult matter. On the positive side, the writing style is very friendly, engaging and clear; a few of the author's personal experiences are peppered throughout - a big plus. The topics include: driving, most if not all of the various systems in cars, as well as the road-tire interface. It even covers car racing and theories of traffic congestion. A lot of interesting, indeed fascinating, information is presented. On the negative side, however, although some items are discussed clearly and as thoroughly as one might expect in such a book, other items are briefly glossed over while some seem to come to an abrupt end. The physics in each case is discussed to correspondingly varying degrees. Some equations are incorrect due to errors in subscripts and some graphs' axes are mislabeled, i.e., editorial mistakes requiring more careful editing. Some equations are magically presented out of thin air, while the derivations of others are are briefly discussed before presenting them. I would hope that, in the future, a second edition of this book would appear in which the various shortcomings would be corrected and additional material added to even out the physics, the various explanations and include a few formula derivations (or recommend references if the derivations are too involved). In other words, perhaps 50 to 100 additional pages may be appropriate. Should such a second edition of this book appear, I would be among the first to get a copy. As it stands, it is valuable reading for any driver; however, a revised edition, as discussed above, could satisfy the needs of the more scientifically curious as well. I am giving the book as much as four stars mainly because of its concept, its tremendous potential, its excellent writing style and the interesting information that it contains. An appropriate second edition would earn an easy five stars.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Potential, So-So Result, Needs Better Diagrams, February 3, 2006

By	Michael Hardt "kid at heart" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The idea behind this book--that many different aspects of physics are illustrated in your car--is fantastic. Electric circuits, Newton's laws of motion, batteries, pressure/volume, and even silicon chips are discussed, along with many, many more topics.

All the topics are introduced at a beginner level, and some are adequately explained. Some aren't. Some are rushed, resulting in a paragraph of jargon and a mention that the topic is too complicated to address in detail. Some are just abandoned.

I found the diagrams to be completely inadequate: small, poorly drawn, and too few.

This book would have been phenomenal as a partnership between the author and David Macaulay, author and illustrator of The Way Things Work. It begs for his sort of artwork.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Math For Me, But Still a Good Informative Book, April 5, 2004

By	Chris Frost (Ingalls, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Barry Parker has written a book that gets down to the nitty gritty of how a car actually works. All the way down to the physics of it. There is actually alot to be learned from his book even if you're not a physics buff. For example, I now understand the difference between a 2 and a 4 stroke engine. I still can't explain the physics behind any of this stuff, but then again, I don't really want to. If you have an interest in understanding cars, or an interest in physics, this book will keep you interested with Barry's down-to-earth writing style. But if you don't like physics or math, it's not a total loss. Those parts are easily skimmed or even skipped entirely.