Banana Physics

Book excerpt: In an attempt to make theoretical physics fun, Banana Physics explains eleven concepts in the context of quirky banana analogies. It introduces the curious (and resilient) reader to quantum mechanics, the Standard Model of Particle Physics, general relativity, loop quantum gravity, and other ideas using monkeys, banana trees, monkey-banana-baseball, bananas shot out of banana launchers, and banana smoothie spills. Intended for high school or middle school readers interested in scientific discoveries and history, Banana Physics could illuminate principles and hypotheses to budding scientists, writers, engineers, or anyone interested in interpreting science through a different lens. This resolute, accessible framework assumes no prior knowledge of physics; instead it provides a humorous, playful perspective on sophisticated concepts that may delight a broader audience.By reading Banana Physics, you'll learn: Behavioral observations of light and explanations that have been written to account for these observations.How experiments of quantum mechanics have been explained in the context of probability. The central contributions of Albert Einstein and how they conflict(ed) with preexisting ideas of space and time held since Newton's time. The role of particle physics and electromagnetism in Einstein's research. Critical clashes between ideas of modern physics