Professor Povey's Perplexing Problems: Pre-University Physics and Maths Puzzles with Solutions

Prof. Povey was my tutor in University and the problems in this book are fantastic at priming you for study in Engineering, Physics or other technical degrees. PPPP is a real 'must read', it's brimming with lots of interesting, difficult problems that any budding engineer can sink their teeth in to. The problem set is diverse in both topics and difficulty which is a true nice property to have.

I really loved reading and working through this book. The problems are all very engaging and unique with clear explanations which offer much more than simply the answer, often providing the reader with a more elegant approach than they might have taken and occasionally containing something quite insightful. The professor also gives an enjoyable commentary throughout. I wish there were more books like it and I hope Povey writes more. It's the perfect post A-levels pre-uni book.

Bought as a present

This book was single-handedly the best purchase I made in Year 12 (although, I wish I bought it even earlier) as it led me to where I am now: studying Natural Sciences @ St. John's College, Cambridge. I have done most of the problems and enjoyed almost every one of them (especially when seeing my skills improve with each question). This made my admissions tests and interviews much easier because my general problem-solving skills improved so much over the several months I did the problems. I would suggest that when you buy this book, you should try to do the problems consistently and spend a while thinking about each one. Doing 1 or 2 problems every 1/2 days over the course of 3/6 months will be much more beneficial than trying to do 5 a day when cramming for interviews (because you won't have as much time to play with the puzzles). Ultimately, the sooner you buy this book and start using it, the better.

I am a physicist and simply love the way Povey has presented the problems and how you are introduced to the reasoning that leads to the solution/s. It is the reasoning that is unique with this book. You are not simply given a problem and then the answer. But you are taken along for the ride (so to speak) and introduced to a way of thinking. The problems are fun and are very well chosen. I'd say that this book could be of interest to almost anyone interested in science, but you need to have a background in mathematics too.

The book provides a set of more interesting Physics and Maths problems for y12 and y13 students. They are based on university admission interview questions and so are useful for students preparing for this. However, the questions are rated for difficulty and the answers are provided. They are arranged into topic areas and each chapter provides a reminder of the topic. The questions would be useful for teachers to challenge the more advanced students in the class. Well organised, it would sit well with those students who will also be considering the Physics Olympiad, the Senior Physics Challenge and Isaac Physics, bringing back the fun of problem solving to Physics......as if it every went away.

Sort of interested but equally frustrated by the initial pages that made rather uncomfortable reading. A young child making fireworks without patents .... Blowing up stuff ... How easy he got into Oxford University despite messing up interview.... All exudes a privileged life while those without these advantages languish..... However.... Once that has left the normal individual quite uncomfortable......the problems set are then explained clearly .... In this sense it is a great resource to help students prepare for Oxbridge interview or just to challenge personal knowledge. Problems are graded too ... So we don't feel too superior when we answer an easy one :)

Professor Povey’s Perplexing Problems is a unique and charming collection of pre-university physics and mathematics puzzles. The puzzles contained within range from the mechanics of those trapped in sewers to accelerating matchboxes to the game of elastotennis (a creation of Povey’s in which both ball and racket are perfectly elastic). Each puzzle is a work of art, Povey has created each puzzle himself and whilst some may be familiar in another guise many are completely original. The accompanying witty commentary and delightful cartoon sketches make this collection of puzzles stand out from the rest. There will not be a wannabe Engineer, Mathematician or Physicist out there who would not enjoy the experience of intellectually wrestling with the hundreds of puzzles presented. One quote is all that is needed to summarise how one should approach this book: ‘These questions are perplexing, puzzling, but-most of all-fun. You should regard them like toys. Pick up the one that most appeals, and play with it. When you have exhausted it, you can entertain a friend with it.’