"How can an airplane weighing many tons stay aloft for many hours, flying so smoothly that passengers may feel less like they are moving than they would in a car? The answer, of course, lies in the wings and in the air they are moving through. The study of this flow of air is part of the science of aerodynamics." "This book is about aerodynamics in the broadest sense. In addition to airplanes, it discusses the aerodynamics of cars and birds and the motion of other diverse objects through air and water. The fundamental notions of mechanics and fluid dynamics - that is, the basic physics underlying aerodynamics - are clearly explained. The underlying science is discussed rigorously, but only elementary mathematics is used, and only occasionally." "To put the science into its human context, the author describes (with many illustrations) the history of human attempts to fly and discusses the social impact of commercial aviation as well as the outlook for future developments. This book is addressed primarily to readers whose background is not in physics or engineering. It will deepen their knowledge of these fields and add to their appreciation of some exciting recent developments in technology."--BOOK JACKET.