Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard A. Muller
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $15.00
You Save: $11.95 (44%)
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Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 3288
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 354
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6 x 1.5
ISBN: 0393066274
Dewey Decimal Number: 530
EAN: 9780393066272
ASIN: 0393066274
Publication Date: August 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Learn the science behind the headlines—the tools of terrorists, the dangers of nuclear power, and the reality of global warming.
We live in complicated, dangerous times. They are also hyper-technical times. As citizens who will elect future presidents of the most powerful and influential country in the world, we need to know—truly understand, not just rely on television's talking heads—if Iran's nascent nuclear capability is a genuine threat to the West, if biochemical weapons are likely to be developed by terrorists, if there are viable alternatives to fossil fuels that should be nurtured and supported by the government, if nuclear power should be encouraged, and if global warming is actually happening. This book is written in everyday, nontechnical language on the science behind the concerns that our nation faces in the immediate future. Even active readers of serious journalism will be surprised by the lessons that the book contains. It is "must-have" information for all presidents—and citizens—of the twenty-first century. 50 illustrations.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Excellent! November 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Physics for Future Presidents" does an excellent job of clearly and summarizing the science and basic facts involved in key areas such as nuclear weapons, climate change, possible terrorist weapons, etc.
A high quality computer battery delivers only 1% of the energy of an equal weight of gasoline - thus, the appeal of gasoline-powered cars. Seven tons of gasoline, mixed with air and detonated from a parachute, releases the energy of 100 tons of TNT - thus, some idea of the power of the energy released in the 9/11 WTC crashes.
Muller is not worried about terrorists making nuclear weapons. The "Davy Crockett" small nuclear weapon weighed about 50 lbs and had about 250 tons of explosive power - not enough to span Central Park. Constructing it would require PhD-level engineers and expert machinists. A stolen ICBM-type bomb, however, is a much more serious threat.
Muller also is not concerned about dirty bombs - the potential damage is far more psychological than real, and limited by the damage caused to those involved.
Detecting rogue nations making uranium nukes look for special centrifuge components - special bearings and maraging (special-strength) steel. Plutonium explosions require very demanding-shaped charges with simultaneous detonation devices - thus, watch for chemical reprocessing plants, material diverted from nuclear reactors, and exotic timing devices.
Smallpox spreads like a chain reaction, and is far greater a threat than anthrax which is spread only via spores. Anthrax spores are hard to disperse and keep aloft. The bad news is that the Soviets created tons reportedly resistant to most antibiotics and buried it. Regardless, terrorists could make more.
Coal used in the U.S. is 20X cheaper than gasoline for the same energy. Our coal will last over 1,000 years at current usage rates.
The critical mass for U-235 is 440 lbs, but with a reflector it is only 33 lbs., about the volume of a quart of milk German scientists missed this and shut down their atomic bomb effort.) The critical mass for plutonium is 13 lbs, about the size of a soft-drink can. Teflon was the "secret" material used in uranium diffusion - the U.S. plant was about 1/2 a square mile. The typical centrifuge plant needs several thousand machines in an area about that of a movie theater; little power is needed.
Reprocessing plutonium is simple, but P-240 (a pollutant) tends to make it explode prematurely. The surrounding explosives must work uniformly and simultaneously - else a fizzle such as North Korea incurred. The secret of the H-bomb is that a plutonium fission bomb emits enough X-rays that they can be used, after bouncing off uranium walls, to compress and ignite the deuterium and tritium (or lithium). Surrounding the secondary material with depleted uranium fissions that material via the neutron fusion, and creates about half the total blast power.
Reagan in 1980 announced a unilateral reduction in the total yield of the U.S. arsenal - actually, he had created more smaller weapons that would create even more damage.
U.S. reactors use partially-enriched uranium (3%) to get around water's absorbing some neutrons. (Natural uranium works when moderated by carbon or heavy water.) Most of our uranium enrichment plants are manufacturing reactor-grade uranium.
Fast breeder reactors are the only type than can explode. Pebble-bed modular reactors are inherently save, operate at higher temperatures and efficiency (40-50%).
Refrigerators dropped from using 1,800 kwh/year in 1974 to less than 500, while increasing about 25% in size and decreasing over 50% in constant dollars.
Over half the power in sunlight is in the infrared spectrum - thus, can paint a roof dark and still reflect half the heat. Also use on sidewalks and streets to reduce the heat island effect.
Goes beyond the hype November 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Professor Muller's book is an excellent read. It is contemporaneous, discussing developments that have occurred in 2008 as well as earlier years. Professor Muller gets beyond the puerile politically-correct propaganda that passes for science these days. Money well spent.
Clear and Objective November 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is not for the casual reader, but it is a must-read for those who pride themselves on being well informed in any one of the five important issues discussed in this book: Terrorism, Energy, Nukes, Space, and Global Warming. The author has ordered the subject matter according to what he believes are the most pressing issues that will confront the new President. While passionate about the subject material, the author is refreshingly detached in reaching his conclusions, as a physicist should be.
When I recommend this book to my better-informed friends, the most frequent question I get back is, "What does he say about Global Warming?" Those who are looking for pithy sound bites will be disappointed. Those who fear a boring professorial-type lecture will be pleasantly surprised. Dr. Muller presents well thought-out rationales for each section, and his delivery has been refined in the classroom by teaching non-physics students at the University of California, Berkley.
I appreciate Dr. Muller's respect for his readers (and future Presidents.) He does not try to impose a hidden agenda upon us. Dr. Muller clearly states his premises and the physics of his findings flows nicely from them
Here is a sketch of my views, as a physicist, on what the reader can expect.
Terrorism: Dr. Muller discusses the high energy content in the jet fuel carried by each hijacked airplane that hit the towers of the World Trade Center on 9/11. He later describes the likely limitations of a terrorist's dirty bomb. He reminds us that Jose Padilla, an American with extensive al-Qaeda training, proposed to build a dirty bomb. Padilla was directed instead to blow up two apartment buildings using natural gas.
Energy: Dr. Muller hits us with a number of "surprises," such as, gasoline delivers 15 times the energy of an equal weight of TNT; coal is 20 times cheaper than gasoline for the same energy; a square mile of sunlight at midday receives a gigawatt of power. He points out that gasoline holds 100 times more energy, pound for pound, than the high quality expensive batteries in cell phones. (Hence, although he owns a hybrid car himself, he is skeptical about the future of all-electric cars until batteries or fuel cells can be greatly improved.)
Nukes: Here he includes both nuclear weapons and nuclear power. After explaining how to estimate the dangers of exposing many people to radioactivity, he discusses the difficulty of building nuclear weapons. He describes how to build safe nuclear reactors, such as Pebble Bed reactors.
Space: Dr. Muller's believes that science should be the central goal of government space programs. Consequently, he advocates robotics rather than manned space travel. He uses a number of examples to illustrate rocket propulsion, orbits, spy satellites, stealth bombers, meteorite impacts, etc.
Global Warming: This is the most balanced and competent treatment of climate change that I have found. After a chapter on climate history, Dr. Muller discusses the Greenhouse Effect. The evidence brings him to the conclusion that most of the buildup of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is manmade. He then classifies the various kinds of distortions and exaggerations that have plagued this subject over the last decade. Next, he focuses on what he sees as the real task: reducing carbon dioxide. After a discussion of "Non-solutions," he addresses solutions. The centerpiece is a concept that he calls "Comfortable Conservation," by which he means better ways to accomplish a task that is less polluting and often cheaper. Florescent light bulbs are an example.
General-interest and science libraries will find it a welcome addition November 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Presidents learning about the latest terrorist threats often have to have a foundation of scientific knowledge and health savvy to assess the potential destructive capacities and dangers of various devices: PHYSICS FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTS teaches this foundation, providing a lively, non-technical primer of information for any who would select the right leader to handle such problems. It comes from a top educator and physics researcher and covers the physics of all types of terrorist weapons. Both general-interest and science libraries will find it a welcome addition.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Excellent October 30, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is the best general audience technical book I have read in a long time. Every chapter is interesting and highly informational. I would put some of the chapters in the category of required reading. We are taken in, many times, by to many myths. The author is very well balanced.
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