Engineering wonders of the 21st century

Briefly explores the origins and history of the automobile and the environmental problems automobiles and their construction can cause, highlighting and celebrating electric cars and newer vehicles with more environmentally friendly designs and mechanics. Includes photographs and a glossary.

Car manufacturers have learned to be versatile over the years. Some cars are designed for safety and comfort. Others are designed for speed. Car enthusiasts can spend hours hotly debating the best designs. Environmental concerns also affect a car's design, especially when it comes to the engine. This volume looks at some of the most iconic and interesting cars from the inside out. A glossary of new terms gives readers a better grasp of the subject matter, and full-color photographs chronicle the history of car design, from simple motorized carts to sleek racing cars.

The Wright brothers are well known for building the first successful airplane. However, they were neither the first nor the last to design an aircraft. Early designs looked very different than the planes we have today, but engineers from 1903 onward have generally tried to improve on the existing plane design rather than reinventing it. This volume looks at the successes and failures of airplane design, from the ancient Egyptian Saqqara bird to the hypersonic planes of the future. Engaging sidebars augment the informative main text, and graphic organizers help visual learners understand the mechanics of flight.