Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Baby Loves Quantum Physics and Thermodynamics!
Baby Loves Quantum Physics!
Baby Loves Thermodynamics!
written by Ruth Spiro; illustrated by Irene Chan
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher
Cat is in the box! Maybe Cat is asleep. Shhh... Maybe Cat is awake.
Baby loves her cat. So when Cat decides to hide, Baby looks for him. A tail hanging out of a box gives a big clue to Baby as to the location of Cat. Now here's the big question: Is Cat asleep or is Cat awake? Or is Cat in both states? This is where quantum physics comes in. Physicist Erwin Schrodinger created a thought experiment involving a cat and a box. Professor Eric Martell explains that Schrodinger's point was that rules used to describe big objects "couldn't be used to explain how an electron or atom works." The thermodynamics book was easier to understand as Baby enjoys the warmth of the sun and also observes that the energy of the sun transfers to an apple tree to help it grow. Then, an apple falls from the tree and Baby eats it to gain enough energy to throw a ball.
So my mind is officially blown. But here's the really cool thing about these two board books: On one level, these board books are gentle stories with engagingly colorful illustrations that babies and toddlers will enjoy. The next level is what it does to adults like me. I spent hours scrambling to learn about quantum physics and the laws of thermodynamics. And it was fun! Plus, it's a great example that I can use with my students about what to do when you don't know something. I can recall to them how I used several resources to learn about quantum physics and thermodynamics. I consulted internet articles and videos to learn. There was a lot of comparing and talking inside my head. The process was an enjoyable journey. Now Jeff loves quantum physics and thermodynamics!