The Strange Case of Mrs. Hudson's Cat: And Other Science Mysteries Solved by Sherlock Holmes

First, I must warn you: this is not a Sherlock Holmes book. It is a science book using Sherlock Holmes charecters. It is also not realistic, in that there are anumber impossible situations (like a century-old atom bomb accidentaly being set off), and many scientific priciples discussed were not discovered until decades after the victorian era (the setting for the book) However, this does not make it a bad book. In fact it is an excelent book. It does a great job of explaining physics principles, even quantum mechanics, enjoyably and in layman's terms. It would probably be enjoyable for both adults who want to get an overall idea of the more unusual physics and for teaching high-school level physics. The earlier chapters can be used with younger students. Overall, a very good book.

I love using this book in my high school classroom. I can reach students who normally think physics is boring and I can really appeal to the super geeks (like me.)

The strange case about physics is that the universe itself is stranger than one imagines, so that even after solving the mystery, the universe still seems wonderfully mysterious. As Sherlock Holmes observes, when you are left with only one explanation that is possible, then thats it, however improbable and strange it may be. You will never have a better ride through a better set of stories.

This book is great! As a physics teacher I plan on using many of the stories to add interest and depth to the different concepts we cover in the physics courses offered at our school. Most of the stories are very clever as well as very entertaining. I particulary enjoyed the story in which the mystery is solved by the realization that a person has been killed by a Focault pendulum which has rotated away from the scene of the accident