Have you ever walked through an automatic door and wondered how it knew you were there? Why does a gas pump stop before the tank overflows? How can an elevator stop perfectly level with the floor—or a smoke detector sense danger before you see flames?

The machines surrounding us perform remarkable feats every day, yet most of their cleverest engineering remains hidden behind metal panels, plastic covers, walls, and ordinary-looking buttons.

How Does That Actually Work? takes you inside 25 familiar machines and reveals the fascinating science that keeps the modern world moving.

Through engaging explanations and detailed, realistic illustrations, you’ll discover:

• How automatic doors detect you and open safely
• Why an elevator needs a counterweight
• How an escalator’s steps continuously disappear and return
• Why refrigerators don’t actually “make cold”
• How washing machines recognize an unbalanced load
• Why microwave ovens heat food unevenly
• How smoke detectors detect invisible particles
• Why pressure cookers change the rules of boiling water
• How traffic lights respond to real traffic
• Why gas pumps automatically shut off

Each chapter transforms an ordinary object into a captivating engineering story. Follow the hidden paths of force, heat, pressure, airflow, electricity, sensors, and feedback as everyday machines detect, decide, move, and protect.

The explanations are clear and approachable—no engineering degree, complicated equations, or technical background required. Realistic cutaway-style artwork helps you visualize what is happening inside each mechanism while the writing connects every component to the larger system.

Perfect for curious adults, teenagers, students, educators, future engineers, and anyone who has ever taken something apart just to see what was inside.

After reading this book, automatic doors, elevators, refrigerators, traffic lights, and even toilets will never look ordinary again.

Open the book. Look beneath the surface. Discover the brilliant engineering hiding in plain sight.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We first started out as ?The Paperback Exchange,? a chain of physical bookstores where we would part exchange your beloved books for new stories to transport you to faraway places. However, as shopping started to evolve to online shops and marketplaces, we bid our stores goodbye to become ?PBShop.? This transition has only allowed us to blossom as we now ship thousands of titles to book lovers across the globe. We pride ourselves in being a community of local book lovers which allows our passion and devotion to shine in everything we do. In 2020 we not only celebrated our 20th birthday but our 1st birthday as being completely employee owned after becoming an E.O.T in September 2019. We are proud to be different and embrace standing apart on a book mountain by working from a virtual inventory which allows us to provide thousands of books that may be difficult to get for your bookshelf or your studies. Working with a number of different suppliers allows us to explore other avenues such as puzzles, sheet music and even stationery so we really do have something for everyone. Life is about being versatile in all realms of existence. If this is your first visit or you are a returning customer, we would like to welcome you to the PBShop family, for there is no friend as loyal as a book. We are a company who put our customers at the centre of everything we do as we understand the importance of reading because once you learn to read, you will forever be free. There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that we are yet to explore, which is why we will forever inspire curious minds.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Pbshop.co.uk Ltd
Unit 22 Horcott Industrial Estate, Horcott Road, Fairford, GL7 4BX, United Kingdom

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Returns Policy
We ask all customers to contact us for authorisation should they wish to return their order. Orders returned without authorisation may not be credited.
If you wish to return, please contact us within 14 days of receiving your order to obtain authorisation.

Returns requested beyond this time will not be authorised.

Our team will provide full instructions on how to return your order and once received our returns department will process your refund.
Please note the cost to return any...

More Information

Shipping Terms

Books are shipped from UK warehouse. Delivery thereafter is between 4 and 14 business days dependant upon your location - please do contact us with any queries you may have.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	7 to 14 business days	7 to 14 business days
First item	US$ 0.00	US$ 0.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.