The Orders Of Magnitude Illustrated Guide

This is the illustrated book that provides visualizations of the orders of magnitude of the universe. Leading with a primer on understanding the difference between linear/logarithmic scales and scientific notation, the guide explores the limits of size, mass, distance, time, speed, and more. The mass of an electron—the smallest component of an atom—is contrasted against the mass of galactic clusters. A year on the planet Neptune is described as lasting 2,000X longer than the 40 days it takes a human to run a 3,100-mile ultramarathon. The speed at which grass grows—an average of 2-6" per month—is compared to the speed of light. Each section includes the formula used (e.g. speed = distance/time), units of measure, and plots each example on a scale that makes it easy to comprehend. Hardcover; 192 pages. 11 1/4" L x 9 1/2" W x 3/4" D.