The Science of Spin : The Force Behind Everything - From Falling Cats to Jet Engines

Includes References (249-252) and Index

1. Spin and the workings of the world
2. Spin in our technology
3. Spin and the human body
4. Putting spin in perspective

Overlooked, under-explored and misunderstood - this is the story of spin, the force which, quite literally, makes the world go round. In this comprehensive and wide-ranging book, Roland Ennos examines the seemingly infinite ways spin affects our lives, from the structure of galaxies to the way we walk. Artfully moving between astrophysics and anthropology, Ennos provides a riveting account of spin's human history, charting the development of engineering and technology from the earliest prehistoric drills to the turbine engine. The Science of Spin brings physics back down to earth, zooming in on our own biomechanics, and revealing the surprising similarities between ballerinas and basketball players. Answering questions as disperse as why the solar system is the shape it is, to why cats always manage to land on their feet, The Science of Spin rekindles a childlike fascination with rotation and sheds light on this often overlooked, but crucial, area of life.