For those who have always wanted to discover the joy of physics, this is the book that they’ve been waiting for. Many people remember their struggles with the topic in high school and have wished for the right opportunity to gain an appreciation of this significant area of knowledge. Now is their chance not only to understand physics, but to do physics. The author provides the general reader with a fun-filled, entertaining, and truly educational tour of this all-important science. What makes the study of physics so worthwhile? The author says that, despite its reputation for difficulty, physics has an enormously ambitious goal, which appeals to people’s innate curiosity: to understand the workings of the entire universe, from the smallest quarks to the largest galaxies. Learning and comprehending as much as we can about the inner and outer workings of the universe is what evokes the joy of physics. Taking a hands-on approach, he invites the reader to share the joy. Easy, practical experiments pepper the book and connect the ideas of physics with the reality of the universe. The yo-yo, flying disc, shake flashlight, laser pointer, LED, and even a microwave experiment with an edible result add to the fun. Understanding and enjoyment go hand in hand as the whole enterprise of physics is explored, explained, and illustrated with clear, recognizable examples and with good humor. Explanations of motion, energy, sound, electricity, and magnetism lead to intriguing discussions of such groundbreaking ideas as relativity, quarks, string theory, and dark energy. Complete with lively, memorable cartoons by Sidney Harris—America’s premier science cartoonist—this book reveals the inherent fun, intellectual pleasure, and supreme importance of a subject that we can now finally tackle and enjoy. This new paperback edition includes new material and a study guide useful for teachers and self-learners.