Lucky Science: Accidental Discoveries From Gravity to Velcro, with Experiments

by Royston M. Roberts, Jeanie Roberts

Overview

An educational and fun book that encourages children to experiment with science by showing them that discoveries may be possible when they least expect it. Every discovery includes history, biography of the discoverer, scientific explanation and a simple, step-by-step experiment to try on their own. In addition to traditional discoveries such as gravity and photography, it features more modern ones like Velcro and Silly Putty. Covers topics in physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and archaeology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471009542
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	10/28/1994
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,136,824
Product dimensions:	7.46(w) x 9.43(h) x 0.28(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Royston M. Roberts is the author of Lucky Science: Accidental Discoveries From Gravity to Velcro, with Experiments, published by Wiley. Jeanie Roberts is the author of Lucky Science: Accidental Discoveries From Gravity to Velcro, with Experiments, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

The Eureka Man: Archimedes Measures Volume.

An Apple Falls: Sir Isaac Newton Discovers Gravity.

A Dancing Frog's Leg: The Electric Battery andElectromagnetism.

Picture This: Daguerre Invents Photography.

Cow Medicine: Jenner and the Discovery of Vaccination.

The Case of the Melting Mailbags: Goodyear and the Vulcanization ofRubber.

A Smashing Discovery: Benedictus Invents Safety Glass.

Digs, Finds, Caves, and Dives: How to Succeed in ArchaeologyWithout Really Trying.

Bangs, Twinkles, and Bumps: Astronomical Discoveries.

From the Moldy Past: Fleming Discovers Penicillin.

How Sweet It Is (and Nonfattening): Three Kinds of SubstituteSugar.

This Discovery Was a Stretch: Du Pont Chemists Make Nylon.

From Velcro to Corn Flakes: Everyday Life Gets Better Thanks toAccidental Discoveries.

Rubber That Relaxes: Silly Putty Becomes a Popular Toy.

Out of the Bomb and Into the Frying Pan: Plunkett DiscoversTeflon.

Epilogue: How Accidents Become Discoveries.

Glossary.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4-6-An exploration of discoveries and inventions, ranging from penicillin to Pluto's moon to Silly PuttyTM. By describing how these discoveries were made, the authors demonstrate how the breakthroughs that seemed accidental often occurred only after years of work and keen scientific thought and observation. In most cases, the examples are covered in concise, yet informative chapters. Sometimes, however, the text is too brief and will leave readers confused. Suggested activities follow each chapter, and for the most part they help to illuminate the discussions, though in a few cases making the experiment match the discovery seems like a bit of a stretch. Also, in a project in which children make their own safety glass, adult supervision is not suggested. Simple black-line drawings and diagrams add to the book's light tone. On the whole, this title succeeds in telling about the process of scientific discovery in an entertaining way.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL

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