First How Things Work Encyclopedia: A First Reference Guide for Inquisitive Minds (DK First Reference)

Contains encyclopedia-style layouts with simple pictures and text describing the technology behind how various things work.;Technology -- Inventions -- Better by design -- Early inventions -- Modern technology -- Technology all around us -- Hard at work -- Simple machines -- Using levers -- On the building site -- Moving stuff -- Getting around -- Wheels and axles -- Pedal power -- Holding the road -- Piston power -- Engines of fire -- Racing cars -- Up to speed -- Powering up -- Trains and tracks -- Gases and liquids -- How fluids work -- Float that boat -- Floating balloons -- Roller coaster -- How do planes fly? -- Blast off! -- Whot is energy? -- It's electric! -- The power of magnets -- Power stations -- Running out -- Renewable energy -- What's cooking? -- Keeping cool -- Energy efficiency -- Light and sound -- Now you see it ... -- Light and bubbles -- Mirror, Mirror -- Lenses -- Fireworks -- Measuring sound -- How ears hear -- Electric guitar -- Bits and bytes -- Inside a laptop -- Binary code -- Sharing data -- Mobile phones -- Digital photography -- Radio and TV -- Bar codes -- The Internet -- Search engines -- Robots -- In the future -- Near future? -- Not-so-near future. Contents 2 4 4–5 Inventions 6 6–7 Better by design 8 8–9 Early inventions 10 10–11 Modern technology 12 12–13 Technology all around us 14 14–15 Simple machines 16 16–17 Using levers 18 18–19 Construction work 20 20–21 Moving stuff 22 22–23 Getting around 24 24–25 Wheels and axles 26 26–27 Pedal power 28 28–29 Holding the road 30 30–31 Piston power 32 32–33 Engines of fire 34 34–35 Race cars 36 36–37 Up to speed 38 38–39 Powering up 40 40–41 Trains and tracks 42 42–43 Gases and liquids 44 44–45 How fluids work 46 46–47 Float that boat 48 48–49 Floating balloons 50 50–51 Roller coaster 52 52–53 How do planes fly? 54 54–55 Blastoff! 56 56–57 What is energy? 58 58–59 It’s electric! 60 60–61 The power of magnets 62 62–63 Power plants 64 64–65 Running out 66 66–67 Renewable energy 68 68–69 What’s cooking? 70 70–71 Keeping cool 72 72–73 Energy efficiency 74 74–75 Light and sound 76 76–77 Now you see it... 78 78–79 Light and bubbles 80 80–81 Mirror, Mirror 82 82–83 Lenses 84 84–85 How light works 86 86–87 Fireworks 88 88–89 Measuring sound 90 90–91 How ears hear 92 92–93 Electric guitar 94 94–95 Bits and bytes 96 96–97 Inside a laptop 98 98–99 Binary code 100 100–101 Sharing data 102 102–103 Cell phones 104 104–105 Digital photography 106 106–107 Radio and TV 108 108–109 Bar codes 110 110–111 The Internet 112 112–113 Search engines 114 114–115 Robots 116 116–119 Near future? 118 120–121 Not-so-near future 122 122–125 Glossary 124 126–127 Index 128 128 Picture credits 130 The How Things Work Encyclopedia takes a look at the technology all around us-and then explains how it works. In each themed section of the encyclopedia, inventions are unpacked to show how and why they work the way they do. Readers can lift the hood of a car engine, get inside a TV set, and discover the power of invisible microwaves. Photographs of the inventions and discoveries, with close-ups, cutaways, and diagrams, bring the technology to life so children can really see and understand what's going on inside.

Looking at the technology all around us-and then explaining how it works, the How Things Work Encyclopedia lifts the hood of a car engine, gets inside a TV set, and discovers the power of invisible microwaves. With close-ups, cutaways, and diagrams bringing the technology to life, and timelines illustrating the development of inventions, challenging curiosity quizzes and fascinating facts, the How Things Work Encyclopedia lets children really see and understand what's going on inside.

Uses detailed photographs and illustrations to explore the inner workings of the world around us.