Curie And the Science of Radioactivity (The Explosion Zone) - Hardcover

Graham, Ian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0764159739 ISBN 13: 9780764159732

Publisher: B E S Pub Co, 2006

Synopsis

This dramatic story tells of a studious Polish girl, Marya Sklodovska, who moved to Paris to study science. She soon changed her name to Marie and married fellow scientist Pierre Curie. Together they discovered the scientific principles that underlie radioactivity. In the process of their work, they discovered the then unknown element, radium. In 1903, Marie and Pierre Curie won the Nobel Prize for physics. The Explosion Zone books combine vivid color illustrations and lively text to tell the stories of important scientists and inventors. Narratives are supplemented with easy-to-understand explanations of the scientific principles that underlie each phase of the invention or discovery being discussed. Imaginatively illustrated two-page spreads include sidebars called Here s the Science, explaining the principles of physics or chemistry that relate to the story. A glossary at the back of each book presents short definitions of scientific and technological terms.

About this title

From the Back Cover

(back cover)
The Explosion Zone

Curie
and the Science of
Radioactivity

What the scientists say:

Don't polish your nails with radium. They may look nice, but it's very bad for your health!

You need a very large amount of the material pitchblende to produce just one gram of radium!

Try wearing lead underwear to stop scientists from seeing through your clothes with X-rays!

Although radiation can be dangerous, small doses can be used to cure cancer.

Reviews

Grade 4-6–These inviting, clearly written biographies are packed with information. Each book has 12 brief chapters and starts with the subject's childhood. Each section has a Here's the science side box to clarify the text. For example, in Curie, transmutation, measuring radiation, and half-life are explained, and in Bell, Morse code, tuning fork, and telephone exchanges. The latter title also has several Try it yourself activities, including making a speaking tube and a string phone. The busy layouts are crowded with color cartoon illustrations and the subjects' personal thoughts and feelings. The pictures show, for the most part, happy, sometimes silly-looking people. The illustration of Pierre Curie being killed by a horse-drawn wagon verges on the comical, bringing inappropriate levity to a tragic event. Glossaries are good. Despite the somewhat distracting graphics, these titles offer plenty of facts for report writers.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
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Edition details

• Publisher: B E S Pub Co
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0764159739
• ISBN 13: 9780764159732
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Antram David
• Number of pages: 32