9781422283295

the air. The flight of an airplane may seem to defy the laws of gravity. In truth, it uses a complex blend of other phys- ical laws to simply overcome it—at least for a little while. Ever wonder how architects can build skyscrapers that are more than a hundred stories tall? It’s because they un- derstand how physics can be used to manage such enor- mous weight and stress. How about those high-perfor- mance sneakers? Their design is based on how different materials act under different conditions. Physics is always there, governing things that usually get very little attention. Take ketchup, for example. If you’ve ever tried to get stub- born ketchup out of a bottle, you know that shaking the bottle helps. That’s because stress (shaking) makes the fluid runnier, so that it flows more easily—and that’s all phys- ics. The list goes on, from X-rays and electricity to cars and cell phones. Virtually every invention and advancement in technology can be traced back to people who had a thor- ough understanding of physics. Many of the most recognized names in physics—Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking—are those of white men. Historically, careers in the sciences have been mostly limited to white people, especially men. Even with- in the sciences, physics is among the most difficult fields to get into, and that’s especially true for African Americans. Unfortunately, they have endured decades of discrimina- tion, particularly in the United States. This has nothing to do with intelligence or ability; instead, it’s about opportu- nity and attitude. Studying physics requires a lot of educa-

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Black Achievement in Science: Physics