A Fairy Tale: Fluid Mechanics (Fairy Tale Physics) by Sarah Allen


A Fairy Tale: Fluid Mechanics (Fairy Tale Physics)
Title : A Fairy Tale: Fluid Mechanics (Fairy Tale Physics)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : ebook
Number of Pages : 29
Publication : First published July 15, 2013

Are you interested in physics but not as interested in curling up with a nice heavy textbook on a Friday night?

If you would rather read a fairy tale, this book's for you. It introduces the fundamental concepts (no equations- just the ideas behind them) of fluid mechanics.

Here are some of the topics it covers:

Buoyancy
Archimedes' Principle
Bernoulli's Principle
Volume Flow Rate
Pressure

This story won't let you ace a physics test by itself, but it will give you a better foundation for working with equations and solving problems- having an intuitive understanding of the concepts in one of the fundamental necessities in a physics class, and it can be hard to get that from a textbook.

Plus, it's pretty painless:

Once upon a time, there lived a princess in a castle...


A Fairy Tale: Fluid Mechanics (Fairy Tale Physics) Reviews


  • Ms PA

    This book is an excellent starting point if you're looking for an engaging way to introduce middle-grade students to fluid mechanics. The credits section at the end, which spans four pages, is particularly fascinating. In it, the author shares the sources for the experiments featured in the book and a brief history of the physicists who carried out those experiments.

  • Mary Ann

    I got this book for free (and right now it is free). I know that everyone learns differently and so I got this and a few others. I really enjoy the story and then an explanation follows and it helps to make sense for someone who needs a different way to look at the problem.

    My girls will be assigned this after New Year. I think it will help them to understand some Physics principles.

  • stela

    honestly this book is quite decent. if you want to explain fluid mechanics to a ten year old or get the very very VERY basics of it this is a good place to start. all the applied mechanics in this book were things i had done in my gcse physics lessons so i knew the outcome of the story, but i guess that was my mistake. the thing that makes this a 3 star read was the 4 page credits at the end where the author basically sources where the experiments are from and gives a very basic history of who carried out said experiments and their findings, what they were doing in physics and which other physicist they worked with, which i genuenly found more entertaining that the book itself

  • Vikki Morrison

    An easy to read fairy tale, presented with the science behind fluid mechanics. I enjoyed reading it (in one sitting!). And as a result, downloaded some of Ms. Allen's other books. I love the way she breaks down the science into something that even a layman can understand. I do recommend this book.

  • Naticia

    A fairy tale, as promised, where the magic happens to hinge on actual science. Short and sweet and illustrated!

  • Jacalyn

    Fun way to learn physics

    This is a fantastic fairy tale mixed with some real life physics. Way more fun reading this to introduce physics and math principles than a text boo!

  • Bethany Granger

    Cute. Very clearly a children’s story, but was kind of fun picking out the physics bits

  • Bryan

    A very well written tale to introduce students to fluid mechanics. Something I'm definitely going to work into my physics class.

  • Today We Did


    Today We Did

    What an interesting concept! Learn about physics through the telling of a fairy tale. The first section of the book tells the fairy tale, while the second part goes over the physics concepts that were found within the story.

    Once upon a time there was a princess… and she rocks! She becomes queen, and goes off to face the wizard that has stolen her baby daughter, and put her beloved husband into a never-ending sleep. Her husband’s brothers help her out in her quest, giving her a magical golden ball and a silver boat.

    The fairy tale showed the Archimedes’ Principle, Buoyancy Force, Bernoulli’s Principle and Archimedes’ screw in action. The story was well written, and I enjoyed it. I also liked the Queen, who shows innovation, perseverance and courage along her quest. She faced the wizard, and solved his conundrum, using fluid mechanics, allowing the reader to explore an example of these concepts. They were then explained more fully in the second section. Simple diagrams were used to help illustrate the physics. This is a great way to introduce physics to younger students, or anyone having difficulty getting their heads around it. I found it was quite easy to understand the science in this format, and it hardly seemed like learning at all!

    Suitable for kids from upper primary through high school and beyond, Fluid Mechanics: A Fairy Tale is a fantastic introduction to this interesting subject.


    *I received this book as a digital copy from the author, who asked me for an honest review of this book. I did not receive any other remuneration, and the review is composed entirely of my own opinions.

  • Jennifer

    As a homeschooler, I'm always looking for methods to teach my daughter content subjects in a fun way, so I think these sorts of books are a fabulous idea.

    While I enjoyed the story in this book, the whole thing felt rushed, as if the author just wanted to get it done and on the market as soon as possible. The descriptions of the devices in the story that were supposed to teach fluid mechanics were very vague and brief, and I don't think the average kid would learn much from them. I had a hard time picturing how the boat and the corkscrew device would have worked, and while I got the ball/bucket thing, I don't think most students would. In my opinion, the author needs to expand the book quite a bit and find a way to incorporate the science dump in the back into the story itself.

    I love the concept though, and with a bit more work I think this series of books could be truly fantastic.

  • Leslie Fisher

    I give this book a "5" for the concept, and a "3" for the flow and some of the explanations, averaging out to a "4" overall. I really liked the concept of this book - an interesting fiction story designed to teach concepts of Physics. I last studied physics in college 17 years ago, and I really hated it (mostly because of the professor I had). That being the case, I understood some of the concepts quite easily, but had a hard time understanding/visualizing other concepts (such as the Archimedes Screw). I would really be interested in reading more books like this because I think this is a really great way to teach.

  • Erin

    I love the idea behind this book, although I think the writing of the fairy tale aspect was a bit clunky. I think it would be cool to use this as an example for kids to do the same - create a story around a scientific/mathematical/philosophical/etc. principle to demonstrate to demonstrate understanding and ability to make application. Get kids writing and help them see what these things they are learning about would/could look like in the real world.

  • Biswanath Banerjee

    Entertainment with information-is the one phrase expression that best describes the book.
    Simple principles of fluid mechanics have been covered by the book-and at the same time a fairy tale has been told. It is a fairy tale that for ages has enthralled every young mind’s heart-a fairy tale that has timeless appeal to the mind of the young mind.
    Full review at

    https://jayasreesown.wordpress.com/20...

  • Susie

    Love!!

    What a brilliant way to teach science! I simply can't wait to share these books with my children! Thank you!

  • Michelle

    What a great fairy tale! I loved the story plus got a science lesson too.