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Optical Physics for Babies: 0 (Baby University)
£7.00£7.60 (-8%)
Help your future genius become the smartest baby in the room!
Written by an expert, Optical Physics for Babies is a colorfully simple introduction to the principles of linear optics. Babies (and grownups!) will learn the difference between reflection and refraction and why both are necessary to create wonderful things like rainbows. With a tongue-in-cheek approach that adults will love, this installment of the Baby University board book series is the perfect way to introduce basic concepts to even the youngest scientists. After all, it’s never too early to become a physicist!
Baby University: It only takes a small spark to ignite a child’s mind.
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by MR BILLY A GUADIZ
Arrived in good time. Simple and well illustrated as it should be.
by PHYS 101
As a disclaimer, I (and my son) have really enjoyed reading many of Chris Ferrie’s other books. Many of them present the basic concepts quite nicely and, whilst they do bend the truth, I generally approve (and I say this as a Physics Teacher and someone who holds a doctorate in the subject).
However, there are *so* many glaring errors in “Optical Physics for babies” that it has really made me question buying any more of the books in this series.
A previous reviewer mentioned that the “rainbow” in the book comprises of 6 colours, not 7 – but this is only the tip of the iceberg.
From about halfway through, there are big inaccuracies in the diagrams, to the extent that I’m considering using it as a “spot-the-mistake” exercise with my pupils (not Key Stage 4 or Key Stage 5, but 12 year olds in Key Stage 3).
For example, when refraction is discussed the light exiting the block remains split into a spectrum. This should not be the case if the surface through which the ray has entered is *parallel* to that at which it exits – it should reform into white light.
Prior to this, at a more fundemental level, when the light ray enters the block and refracts, it bends back on itself by a huge angle, past the normal; the ray should bend downwards, but only very slightly. You may think that this is trivial, but had the author just adjusted the illustration slightly to increase the angle of incidence, it would have been easy to draw correctly.
Similar issues exist for the raindrop diagram: the angle of refraction as the ray enters the drop is greater than the angle of incidence, suggesting that the ray travels faster in water. This is simply not the case – the opposite is true (light travels more slowly in water).
There are other oversights that may have been omitted for clarity, but I can see absolutely no reason to include the errors I have mentioned. Drawing the diagrams differently would have had no impact, other than making the book correct.
(Please don’t let this stop you from buying some of the other books!)
by Mogandazra
I read it from cover to cover and didn’t really engage with the plot but one year old Ben loves it.
by Joy Clark
My 2 year old daughter loves these books
by Andrea M.
The book arrived partially broken and also contains inaccurate information. Disappointing
by James
Don’t delay, get this book for your child, it is pure brilliance.
by Lillian
I love these books but especially this one has been wonderful as the colours are really good