ASK A SCIENCE TEACHER: 250 Answers to Questions You’ve Always Had About How Everyday Stuff Really Works Copyright © Larry Scheckel, 2011, 2013 This is an extensively revised and updated edition of Ask Your Science Teacher, originally published in 2011 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Illustration of Fireworks based on an original design by Colin Bradley of PyroUniverse.com Illustration of the Periodic Table courtesy of Wikimedia Commons User Cepheus Illustration of Gun-Type Fission Weapon courtesy of Dake, FastFission, and Howard Morland used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license Illustration of Implosion Nuclear Weapon courtesy of Ausis and FastFission used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license Decorative illustrations at the start of each chapter courtesy of Karen Giangreco. All other illustrations © Ruth Murray All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio, television, or online reviews, no portion of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The Experiment, LLC 220 East 23rd Street, Suite 301 New York, NY 10010-4674 www.theexperimentpublishing.com The Experiment’s books are available at special discount when purchased in bulk for premiums and sales promotions as well as for fundraising or educational use. For details, contact us at
[email protected] Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and The Experiment was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been capitalized. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Scheckel, Larry, author. Ask a science teacher : 250 answers to questions you’ve always had about how everyday stuff really works / Larry Scheckel. pages cm ISBN 978-1-61519-087-4 (pbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-61519-179-6 (ebook) 1. Science--Miscellanea. I. Title. Q173.S288 2013 500--dc23 2013022014
ISBN 978-1-61519-087-4 Ebook ISBN 978-1-61519-179-6 Cover design by Howard Grossman Text design by Pauline Neuwirth, Neuwirth & Associates, Inc. Manufactured in the United States of America Distributed by Workman Publishing Company, Inc. Distributed simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen and Son Ltd. First printing November 2013 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
This book is dedicated to my wife, Ann, for her suggestions, constant encouragement, joy, and inspiration. And to my deceased parents, Alvin and Martha Scheckel, who made me what I am today.
Contents Preface
Chapter 1: The Magnificent Human Body 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
How many cells are in your body? Why do the young and the elderly get sick more easily? What are birthmarks? Why is blood red? Why are we attracted to unhealthy foods? Why do we have nightmares? How do braces make your teeth straight? Why does the human body reject all other blood types except type O?
9 Why do we cry? 10 What is juvenile diabetes, and how can you get it? 11 Can you drown from drinking too much water? 12 Why does your heart stop when you sneeze? 13 Why does a spinning motion cause nausea?
14
What makes people’s bones break, and how do they eventually heal?
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Why do we get goose bumps when we are cold?
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
How many organs are there in a person’s body?
Why do we have fingernails