The concept of fractals provides a language to describe the shape and behaviour of a wide variety of irregular objects. Such objects could be as varied as a rugged coastline or the frost patterns on a winter window, and the fractals concept implies that all these diverse objects possess a newform of symmetry. This stimulating book introduces the fractal dimension and describes simple experiments that will bring the principles involved to life in a modestly equipped laboratory. The relevance of the concepts to the structure and chemistry of porous solids, and to the growth of polymersand colloids in liquid and gaseous phases is emphasised.