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The Nature of Matter: Understanding the Physical World
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Narrated by:
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David W. Ball
About this listen
Matter is the raw material of the universe. Discover how the immense variety of matter - stars, mountains, plants, people - is generated by a limited number of chemical elements that combine in simple, well-defined ways. Consider carbon, a relatively common atom with many faces: diamond, which is the hardest known mineral; graphite, which is among the softest known substances; and carbon nanotubes, which are 300 times stronger than steel and have remarkable electrical properties.
In the 24 engaging lectures of The Nature of Matter, no scientific background is needed to appreciate such miracles of everyday life as a bouncing rubber ball or water's astonishing power to dissolve. Moreover, the study of matter has led directly to such inventions as semiconductor circuits for computers, new fabrics for clothes, and powerful adhesives for medicine and industry. These discoveries were hard won by scientific sleuths, but we can all sit back and enjoy the details - just as we delight in the solution to a good detective story. Since prehistoric times, knowledge of materials has driven the development of civilization. The Stone Age was succeeded by the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Industrial Age, and now the age of silicon - the element that is the basis of the semiconductor revolution.
Where will new methods and materials take us next? Professor Ball notes that the "fun part about being a chemist is that we still have lots of combinations of these raw materials to explore". Join this outstanding teacher and researcher on this exciting journey of discovery into the substance of everyday life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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- Unabridged
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How to enrich your life and destroy doubt in five seconds. Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends, and mentors who have pushed you to be better than your excuses and bigger than your fears. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing how to push yourself?
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I turned it off after an hour.
- By Zac on 04-08-17
By: Mel Robbins
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The history of the Constitution is therefore a history of ideas that define our country and our national identity—and it’s a fascinating and revealing story. The US Constitution Through History gives you the opportunity to explore the story of this powerful document, as well as the way our interpretation of it has evolved. In 24 riveting lectures, Professor Eric Berger of the University of Nebraska takes you on a journey through America’s constitutional history. He takes you inside the minds of the Framers and unpacks the ideas that led to the break from England.
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Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
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Somewhat Interesting but not Quite as Advertised
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What listeners say about The Nature of Matter: Understanding the Physical World
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- Henrik B. Rasmussen
- 09-24-21
bettered my understanding
I now better understand of what stuff is made. Mist interesting is how molecules can be manipulated to produce different things.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Slysne
- 05-18-18
An amazing job!
This covered so much territory and made me wish I paid more attention in chemistry... loved it.
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- Ali
- 01-17-19
refreshing material
informative and storytelling
it was nice refreshing experience for some subjects and enjoyed new subjects
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- evolence@yahoo.com
- 09-23-19
An overview of matter
The course presents an overview of the nature of matter. Half of the course deals in classical chemistry terms. The other half of the course deals with applied materials science and covers topics like polymers, recycling, super conductors, transistors, etc. If you want a course that is all hard core chemistry, you might do better looking elsewhere.
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4 people found this helpful
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- SM
- 01-27-16
Excellent
Excellent program. Well presented and fascinating to listen too. Great subject matter. Highly recommend to explain the knowledge of the world around us.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Andrew Humphrey
- 05-30-18
Great for college chem students!
Awesome narration and really enjoyable to listen to in the car. I definitely recommend it to any first year chem student.
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- Greg Lindsay
- 10-21-16
Great for a technical audience
What made the experience of listening to The Nature of Matter: Understanding the Physical World the most enjoyable?
The book covered a very wide variety of chemistry subjects, from sub-atomic, atomic, and molecular interactions to the science of building materials, foods, dyes, aerospace materials, and more. Very educational and well organized. Parts of it were somewhat technical: at least an introductory college level. If you think a chapter is slightly dry, just wait for the later chapters.
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8 people found this helpful
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- oregon
- 03-02-22
David Ball knows his stuff.
I enjoyed this book. Mr. Ball did an excellent job writing and narrating this course. Definitely recommended.
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- Charles Blythe
- 02-23-22
Putting the pieces together
I am going to re-listen to this most excellent series of lectures that has linked so many disparate aspects of the physical world through clear insightful description of the basics then followed with rational permutations that make the many cases a logical confirmation of those basic principles. These are so information rich I need a second pass to gain a more detailed understanding of this material.
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- Alex Sànchez
- 05-29-23
Useless managers
Who is the useless manager at audible that makes reviews required? Stars are enough
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