Shows how principles of modern physics have been used for warfare through the ages. His topics include the basic physics of early weapons, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and the early English-French wars, how the discovery of gunpowder and cannons changed the art of war and the world, the impact of the industrial revolution, ballistics of rifle bullets and cannon shells, aerodynamics and the first airplanes, the machine gun in World War I, the development and use of radio and radar in war, and the atomic bomb. --Publisher's description.

Early wars and the beginning of physics -- Basic physics of early weapons -- The rise and fall of the Roman Empire and early English-French wars -- Gunpowder and cannons: the discovery that changed the art of war and the world -- Three men ahead of their time: Da Vinci, Tartaglia, and Galileo -- From early guns to total destruction and discovery -- The impact of the industrial revolution -- Napoleon's weapons and new breakthroughs in physics -- The American Civil War -- Where does the bullet go: ballistics of rifle bullets and cannon shells -- Hey, look ... it flies!: aerodynamics and the first airplanes -- The machine gun war -- World War I -- The invisible rays: the development and use of radio and radar in war -- Sonar and the submarine -- The great war: World War II -- The atomic bomb -- The hydrogen bomb, intercontinental missiles, lasers, and the future.