Under The Microscope

WHY THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE by B.S. Chandrasekhar; Cambridge University Press, 1997; 254 pp; $55.95 (Paperback)

Reviewed by Andy Reisinger

When I was a small boy and our family went tramping, I used to ask my Dad for explanations of natural phenomena which I found hard to understand yet fascinating. This would while away the less exciting parts of the walk and keep my little feet and both our brains busy. B.S. Chandrasekhar's book Why things are the way they are reminds me of such times.

Assuming no training in science or maths in his readership, he attempts to illustrate the fundamental concepts of what scientists refer to as "solid state physics". Hidden behind this rather daunting term are explanations of very commonly experienced phenomena, such as the differences between crystals and glass, electrical conductors and insulators, brittleness and elasticity of various substances, conduction of heat, and why certain materials transmit light while others reflect or absorb it. Finally he touches upon the fascinating new field of superconductivity, one of the most important developments in solid state physics over the past two decades.

Many people would call such topics rather mundane, yet only few would be able to give satisfactory explanations of those everyday properties in the world around us. Chandrasekhar uses a combination of enthusiasm, diagrams, analogies, and very little maths to give an intuitive understanding of what makes different materials behave in different ways. What makes this book even more worthwhile is that he does not shy away from introducing the reader to quantum physics, an essential yet often neglected tool for understanding the properties of solid materials.

The book has some dry stretches, however, and will probably still be too complex for those who genuinely cannot cope with the degree and kind of abstraction involved in physical explanations. On the other hand, it makes fascinating story-telling for high-school students with an interest in the workings of our physical world. Similarly, it is an enjoyable resource for those who occasionally feel embarrassed about not being able to explain why metal bends but glass breaks, a silver spoon in a coffee cup gets hot but a plastic one doesn't. Particularly if it is in response to the inquisitive questioning of a 10-year-old child.

Andy Reisinger is with NIWA in Wellington