The Material World
Out of Print
Using the cosmos as a backdrop, Rodney Cotterill delivers a fascinating journey of Nature's materials, from the atom to the living organism. This is a beautifully illustrated, expanded account of the highly praised Cambridge Guide to the Material World. The author seamlessly blends the physics, chemistry and biology of Nature, portraying matter with all its elegance and flaws. Although the book is divided into material types, the author connects concepts and pinpoints commonalities between the inorganic and organic domains. It challenges the reader to question our structured view of the world and whether this limits our scientific endeavour, aptly demonstrated by the new chapter devoted exclusively to the mind. Through the breadth of topics and engaging prose, this book will act as a superb introduction to material science for students and those intrigued by the material world we live in.
- Beautifully illustrated in colour throughout
- Broad coverage of important classes of materials blending scientific disciplines
- Written with the non-specialist in mind, numerous analogies and examples to engage the reader
Reviews & endorsements
Praise for the previous edition
“A godsend to anyone who knows little or no physics, chemistry or biology but would like a picture of the world at the microscopic and atomic levels.”
Carl Rasmussen, NY Library Journal
“The unity and depth between physics and chemistry, between crystal defects and restriction enzymes, has never been served so well in a popular and visually engaging book.”
Phillip Morrison, Scientific American
Product details
November 2008Hardback
9780521451475
576 pages
262 × 212 × 35 mm
1.85kg
Unavailable - out of print August 2018
Table of Contents
- Prologue
- 1. Solo atoms: electrons, nuclei and quanta
- 2. Atomic duets: the chemical bond
- 3. Atoms in concert: states of matter
- 4. Patterns within patterns: perfect crystals
- 5. The inevitable flaw: imperfect crystals
- 6. The great mediator: water
- 7. From mine, quarry and well: minerals
- 8. Almost forever: ceramics
- 9. Monarchs of the cave: metals
- 10. The busy electron: conductors and insulators
- 11. A mysterious harmony: glass
- 12. The organic world: carbon
- 13. Strangeness in proportion: liquid crystals
- 14. Of snakes and ladders: Polymers
- 15. The vital threads: Biopolymers
- 16. The essential bag: the cell
- 17. Mortal coils: the organism
- 18. A place in the sun: the plant
- 19. Mandatory hunter: the animal
- 20. Enchanted loom: the mind.
