COLOR: From Rainbows to Lasers

by Franklyn M. Branley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 24, 1978

Unlike Heuer (below), Branley begins with a businesslike background chapter on light theory from the Greeks through Newton to the present, using simple, easily understandable equations in explaining the concepts of ""light waves,"" the speed of light, and the diffraction of white light. And though Branley's writing style is more carefully geared to a juvenile audience, his approach is less attractive superficially; he deals with physiological, psychological, and physical basics before getting into his very wide range of specific topics: laser light, color blindness, rainbows and other atmospheric phenomena, pigments and dyes, and color TV, printing, and photography. Unfortunately all of this skipping about produces its own scattering effect and sometimes gives an impression of aimlessness. However, many of the explanations are interesting in themselves, and despite a few minor slips (the text mixes up the two rings of a solar halo, and in two of the colored diagrams blue comes out purple) both text and illustrations are clear and to the point.

Pub Date: May 24, 1978

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: T. Y. Crowell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1978

Categories: NONFICTION