Synopsis: William Gurstelle, a professional engineer, is a believer in DIY Science and the creativity of amateurs. He wanted to create a book to inspire new generation of young scientists and engineers and encourage hands on experimentation. He was told he would never find a publisher due to safety concerns with the projects he chose. When he did find a publisher and the first edition had strong sales. In the 2nd edition published in 2012, the author has added new devices and added more sources for materials. He strongly emphasizes safety above all else for each project. Instructions are clear, (including diagrams, materials & photographs),and are clearly designed to help you complete the project successfully. Sources are listed for each project and each project has related information on scientific principles and history. Projects range from the simple Cincinnati fire kite to the complicated Electromagnetic pipe gun.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: The author is highly qualified in the subject area and the projects included in the books are meticulously researched. Gurstelle is the author of “The practical Pyromaniac, the Art of the catapult, and “Building Bots.” He has been building DIY projects for thirty years and is the Pyrotechnics and Ballistics editor at Popular Mechanics. “Backyard Ballistics” belongs in every public library. Hand this to Science teachers, Boy Scout leaders and remember safety first! (Adult, high school)