How everything works : making physics out of the ordinary / Louis A. Bloomfield.

Things that move -- More things that move -- Mechanical things -- More mechanical things -- Things involving fluids -- Things that move with fluids -- Thermal things -- Things that work with heat -- Things with resonances and mechanical waves -- Electric things -- Magnetic and electromagnetic things -- Electronic things -- Things that use electromagnetic waves -- Things that involve light -- Optical things -- Things that use recent physics -- Things that involve materials -- Things that involve chemical physics.

Explains the physics of approximately sixty common items, including roller coasters, elevators, television, lasers, and musical instruments, as well as nuclear weapons and reactors.