Particle Physics Brick by Brick

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A book review of Particle Physics Brick by Brick: Atomic and Subatomic Physics Explained in Lego by Dr. Ben Still

Stars: ****

Firefly Books (2018)
Science>Physics
176 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: In 2014 the LEGO® Group sold 62 billion LEGO® pieces That’s 102 LEGO® bricks for every person in the world That’s nothing however compared to the estimated seven billion billion billion atoms that make up each of us, let alone the between ten quadrillion vigintillion and one-hundred thousand quadrillion vigintillion atoms in the known observable universe

Thankfully, understanding atomic and subatomic physics need not be infathomable LEGO® bricks are a great way to visualize the blueprint of the universe, right down to its smallest elements Particle Physics Brick by Brick explains how and with what the universe came to be It introduces the Standard Model of Physics, the “rule book” of physics that has been proven correct again and again since its mid-20th century development Today, it is the gaps in the model that keep physicists busy

In concise chapters, the book assigns to each atomic element a colored LEGO® brick, such as neutrons, leptons and quarks By assembling actual or imaginary bricks and observing their relationships and interactions, particle physics becomes clear The book opens with the Standard Model of Physics, the physicists and the discoveries made over history, and directions on how to use the book.

Particle Physics Brick by Brick is a succinct introduction for anyone that wants to gain a basic understanding of the atomic world, its elements and how they interact By using tangible substitutes – bricks – it brings the unseen atomic world into the realm of the visual

If you are learning particle physics or are just interested in it and want a visual representation or fun way of learning, this is the book. If you like LEGO AND Physics, this is doubly your book.

I personally know nothing about particle physics but my teen daughter is very into science and loves chemistry and physics. So I just had to check this book out for her.

Particle Physics is the branch of physics that deals with the subatomic (aka the VERY tiny particles.) So demonstrating what you can’t see with LEGO is a smart idea.

After the introduction, the standard model is discussed. If you are familiar with particle physics you know what that is. If not, it’s the basic model of the world at at it’s smallest scale. It is shown in LEGO pieces though, with each LEGO piece standing for a part of the standard model.

In inside cover of the book it also shows this standard model so you can fold it over your current page and see it as needed. I think that’s clever.

Here are the chapters: Building Blocks and Construction Rules, Building a Universe, Electromagnetism and QED, The Strong Force and QCD, The Weak Force and Breaking Symmetries, Broken Symmetry and Mass, Problems with Ghosts, Violated Symmetry and Future.