Wednesday, November 28, 2007

the pleasure of finding things out

richard feynman's precocious existence kept his colleagues and enthusiasts of physics intrigued for many decades! he was well-known as one of the best lectures ever recorded.

he won the nobel prize in physics in 1965 for the Development of the Space-Time View of Quantum Electrodynamics.

i read his auto-biography, surely you're joking, mr. feynman! it's quite entertaining, but i wouldnt call it a "page-turner." as an undergrad physics major, i was much more mesmerized by his 3-volume series called lectures on physics.

below is an inspiring video of an interview with feynman that shares intuitive view on his life and how he came to be a physics nobel laureate. this is rather long video at 50 minutes, but it's completely absorbing from the very start. at least watch the first 2 minutes about the beauty of a flower! he then discusses lessons he learned from his father as a child, his involvement with creating the atomic bomb in the 1940's, winning the nobel prize and how much he doesnt care about honors, his understanding of quantum mechanics, why he's actively irresponsible, his (lack of) theory of teaching.... and i really enjoy the last couple minutes...


you can also listen to, and watch extended physics lectures about quantum mechanics, here.... they're quite good as well! he creates wonderful analogies that make very difficult mathematical results feel attainable!

a feynman quote i've always enjoyed.... "physics is like sex. sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it."

he's worked his way into popular culture....


feynman also truly understood that regardless of what you work hard to accomplish in your life... you need to have fun... and have orange juice!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman is a great book! I've probably read it ten times, though not sequentially after the first read. I open it every so often and read at random. Thanks for posting the vids. I'll definitely check them out when I have a free 50 minutes.

Anonymous said...

Just finished his book, "you don't care what other people think"
excellent book... a little excessive for the layman but otherwise great!
Thanks for the vids!