The Odd Book of Data

Fülszöveg

Although man claims to be Nature's most accomplished observer, he largely fails to grasp the scale of the natural phenomena his studies reveal. The overwhelming majority find the clinical precision of the mathematical or scientific form of expression far too impersonal and intangible. Consequently, it is necessary to evolve a form of expression which relates to the familiar, in much the same way the linguist makes use of his mother tongue as a 'vehicle' when studying another language. This is perhaps best illustrated by using an example from the book itself. We are told that the sun liberates energy continuously at the rate of 3.5 x 1026 kcal/hr in transmuting hydrogen into hélium. This figure becomes more meaningful when we are made to realize that, if we were able to harness this energy, we would each of us have at our disposal 70,000 times the power capacity of the United States. This immensely readable volume is crammed full of intriguing yet scientifically accurate examples of... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Although man claims to be Nature's most accomplished observer, he largely fails to grasp the scale of the natural phenomena his studies reveal. The overwhelming majority find the clinical precision of the mathematical or scientific form of expression far too impersonal and intangible. Consequently, it is necessary to evolve a form of expression which relates to the familiar, in much the same way the linguist makes use of his mother tongue as a 'vehicle' when studying another language. This is perhaps best illustrated by using an example from the book itself. We are told that the sun liberates energy continuously at the rate of 3.5 x 1026 kcal/hr in transmuting hydrogen into hélium. This figure becomes more meaningful when we are made to realize that, if we were able to harness this energy, we would each of us have at our disposal 70,000 times the power capacity of the United States. This immensely readable volume is crammed full of intriguing yet scientifically accurate examples of this nature. The author endeavours to cover in this way the most important aspects of the Universe in which we live. It is hoped that in enabling him to see the relationship between abstruse scientific expressions and their more concrete form, the book will pro ve of somé educational value to the reader.
R. Houwink was born in 1897, received his Masters Degree from Delft University in 1921 and remained there as research assistant for somé years. In 1923 he joined the Vredestein Rubber Factory in Holland as a chemical engineer. Subsequently he became Chief Chemist and, later, Factory Manager of the Plastics Division, Philips Radio, Eindhoven. In 1937 he was awarded his Ph. D. (cum laude) from the University of Delft, and from 1939 to 1956 was Director General of the Rubber-Stichting in that city. In 1956 he was appointed Technical Director at the Reactor Centrum, The Hague, and a Director of Euratom in Brussels from 1960 until his retirement in 1962, when he became an Honorary Director of that organization. During the war the author was associated, for three years, with the Plastics Institute at Delft as Founder and Director. Dr. Houwink is a Fellow of the Institution of the Rubber Industry, London (F.I.R.I.), a Member of Honour of the Société de Chimie Industrielle, Paris, and a Golden Medallist of the 'Bond voor Materialenkennis'. He is the author or editor of several books, mainly on natural and synthetic rubbers and plastics. Vissza