In recent years, the importance of material science, or the understanding of the physical properties of food materials in the progress of food engineering, has become more recognized. Increasing numbers of basic and applied studies in this area appear in numerous journals and literature scattered around various disciplines. This 'Series in Food Material Science' is planned to survey, collect, organize, review and evaluate these studies. By doing so, it is hoped that this series will be instrumental in bringing about a better understanding of the physical properties of food materials, better communication among scientists, and rapid progress in food engineering, science and technology. This volume, Theory, Determination and Control of Physical Properties of Food Materia/s, Volume I of the 'Series in Food Material Science', contains basic principles, methods and instrumental methods for determination and application of the modifi­ cation of physical properties. In this book, noted investigators in the subjects have pooled their knowledge and made it available in a condensed form. Every chapter is selfcontained with most of them starting with a review or introduction, including the viewpoint of the author. These should offer a beginner a very general introduction to the subjects covered, make the scientists and technologists in the field aware of current progress and allow the specialists a chance to compare different viewpoints.