Comments on: How to Teach Physics to Your Dog: explaining quantum physics through discussions with a German shepherd http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 23:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671751 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671751 Well, maybe, but that's not a German Shepherd! Well, maybe, but that’s not a German Shepherd!

]]> By: kai http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671755 kai Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671755 I took a quantum class on the graduate level to fulfill an out of department requirement for my applied math phd; so given that background granted my opinion is probably pretty skewed. But I really don't think you can have any understanding of quantum without working problems and doing the math. I took a quantum class on the graduate level to fulfill an out of department requirement for my applied math phd; so given that background granted my opinion is probably pretty skewed. But I really don’t think you can have any understanding of quantum without working problems and doing the math.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672032 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672032 I'm still trying to get my dog to understand simple Newtonian mechanics. She thinks she can catch squirrels chittering at her from the top of two-story buildings by leaping at them. I’m still trying to get my dog to understand simple Newtonian mechanics.

She thinks she can catch squirrels chittering at her from the top of two-story buildings by leaping at them.

]]> By: DoppelFrog http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671782 DoppelFrog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671782 So it's a "...delightful book on many axes" I guess that makes it a cut above the rest? So it’s a “…delightful book on many axes”
I guess that makes it a cut above the rest?

]]> By: khanti http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671791 khanti Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671791 Interesting concept. if it just me, though, or does that dog look nothing like a german shepherd? Interesting concept. if it just me, though, or does that dog look nothing like a german shepherd?

]]> By: JimmyATX http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671797 JimmyATX Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671797 I'm no dog expert, but that dog does not appear to be a German shepherd. I’m no dog expert, but that dog does not appear to be a German shepherd.

]]> By: Cory Doctorow http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671802 Cory Doctorow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671802 This is true. Nevertheless, I assure you that the text involves a German shepherd. This is true. Nevertheless, I assure you that the text involves a German shepherd.

]]> By: HotPepperMan http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671803 HotPepperMan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671803 That's a black lab on the cover of hte book by the looks of it. Jeez - Are we going to get a whole new batch of mediocre books that 'dumb down' physics, philosophy and the meaning of life just because some upstart in Book Production read Richard Adams, Sophie's World, Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, saw 'The Incredible Journey' and now has an identity crisis? "Physics as entertainment" would be a better title. That’s a black lab on the cover of hte book by the looks of it.

Jeez – Are we going to get a whole new batch of mediocre books that ‘dumb down’ physics, philosophy and the meaning of life just because some upstart in Book Production read Richard Adams, Sophie’s World, Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, saw ‘The Incredible Journey’ and now has an identity crisis? “Physics as entertainment” would be a better title.

]]> By: kcavness http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672318 kcavness Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672318 I'm sorry if I haven't read Feynman's Lectures yet, but why yes, I'd like to be able to have a small grasp of quantum mechanics. I'm sure that, like with a lot of other things, the best I could hope to understand on the subject is the very edge of the basics, but to claim that it is impossible to have <i>any</i> understanding of it is by working out the equations is just plain stupid. I'm not going to finish Chad's book and feel that I have experienced anything more than a casual, amusing introduction to the subject, and that's what it's intended for. Ivory-tower pinheads who demand that all books cover everything as extensively as possible are just plain wrong. There's a place for stuff like this, and a person it's meant for. That person is me. Trying to make people feel stupid for wanting to learn is, well, <i>stupid</i>. I’m sorry if I haven’t read Feynman’s Lectures yet, but why yes, I’d like to be able to have a small grasp of quantum mechanics. I’m sure that, like with a lot of other things, the best I could hope to understand on the subject is the very edge of the basics, but to claim that it is impossible to have any understanding of it is by working out the equations is just plain stupid. I’m not going to finish Chad’s book and feel that I have experienced anything more than a casual, amusing introduction to the subject, and that’s what it’s intended for.

Ivory-tower pinheads who demand that all books cover everything as extensively as possible are just plain wrong. There’s a place for stuff like this, and a person it’s meant for. That person is me.

Trying to make people feel stupid for wanting to learn is, well, stupid.

]]> By: kcavness http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672320 kcavness Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672320 <i>that it is impossible to have any understanding of it is by working out the equations is just plain stupid</i> Sigh. "understanding of it is by" s/b "understanding of it other than by". Wish I could edit directly! that it is impossible to have any understanding of it is by working out the equations is just plain stupid

Sigh.

“understanding of it is by” s/b “understanding of it other than by”. Wish I could edit directly!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671813 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671813 The cover picture only ceases to display a German Shepherd while you're observing it. The cover picture only ceases to display a German Shepherd while you’re observing it.

]]> By: Cory Doctorow http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671828 Cory Doctorow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671828 Have you read the book? It certainly seems like you haven't, since "mediocre" and "dumb down" are two phrases no one who'd read the book could be expected to use in connection with it. Are we going to get a whole batch of ignorant, meanspirited comments that 'piss' all over books they haven't read just because the comments' authors are filled with bile? Have you read the book? It certainly seems like you haven’t, since “mediocre” and “dumb down” are two phrases no one who’d read the book could be expected to use in connection with it.

Are we going to get a whole batch of ignorant, meanspirited comments that ‘piss’ all over books they haven’t read just because the comments’ authors are filled with bile?

]]> By: doesn't take physics http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672343 doesn't take physics Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672343 calculus is hard! let's go shopping! that is admirable, but the book isn't about the basics. the book is about the details, written entirely in metaphor, without ever describing the details of the theory (to be inclusive, inertia is also hard) calculus is hard! let’s go shopping!

that is admirable, but the book isn’t about the basics. the book is about the details, written entirely in metaphor, without ever describing the details of the theory

(to be inclusive, inertia is also hard)

]]> By: jeffguevin http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671832 jeffguevin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671832 John Scalzi also has a nice piece about this book on his Big Idea feature today, with some thoughts from Orzel about the whole project: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/22/the-big-idea-chad-orzel/ John Scalzi also has a nice piece about this book on his Big Idea feature today, with some thoughts from Orzel about the whole project: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/22/the-big-idea-chad-orzel/

]]> By: kcavness http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672344 kcavness Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672344 That's an extremely limited and pedantic defining of the term "basics". That’s an extremely limited and pedantic defining of the term “basics”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671838 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671838 It's both a Labrador and German shepherd until we observe it. It’s both a Labrador and German shepherd until we observe it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671844 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671844 The dog is a Black Labrador Retriever. The dog is a Black Labrador Retriever.

]]> By: fasterpussycat http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672110 fasterpussycat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672110 Say Cory, that phrase "irreducible complexity" is a bit loaded, associated as it is with the Intelligent Design movement. Is there something else you can use here, or do you mean to use it in that specific way? Say Cory, that phrase “irreducible complexity” is a bit loaded, associated as it is with the Intelligent Design movement. Is there something else you can use here, or do you mean to use it in that specific way?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671861 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671861 Any book that can help explain, and make interesting, any technical subject is what we need more of. To be able to give this type of book to a young person to picque their interest is a great thing and can only help disseminate the seeds of a larger base of scientific knowledge. We have more than enough MBA's and "XXX studies" majors (fill in the social blank). We need ways to swell interest in the sciences. Any book that can help explain, and make interesting, any technical subject is what we need more of. To be able to give this type of book to a young person to picque their interest is a great thing and can only help disseminate the seeds of a larger base of scientific knowledge. We have more than enough MBA’s and “XXX studies” majors (fill in the social blank). We need ways to swell interest in the sciences.

]]> By: Robert http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671877 Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671877 My dog is like Einstein. Her hair goes everywhere, and she refuses to accept quantum mechanics. My dog is like Einstein. Her hair goes everywhere, and she refuses to accept quantum mechanics.

]]> By: Dave H http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-676744 Dave H Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-676744 I Have the book and I have read it. Chad Orzel using conversations with his shepherd mix pal Emmy does sound kinda dumb. But for those dummies like me (BA History/Anthroplolgy, MA, History)who want to understand what is happening in physics and don't know the math, this book is great. As far as "dumbing down," this book is on a par with the science for the non-scientist works of Asimov, Sagan, Jastrow, Ferris, Moore, and Tyson. Some people might want to check their spleens for leakage. I Have the book and I have read it. Chad Orzel using conversations with his shepherd mix pal Emmy does sound kinda dumb. But for those dummies like me (BA History/Anthroplolgy, MA, History)who want to understand what is happening in physics and don’t know the math, this book is great.

As far as “dumbing down,” this book is on a par with the science for the non-scientist works of Asimov, Sagan, Jastrow, Ferris, Moore, and Tyson.
Some people might want to check their spleens for leakage.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671891 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671891 @kai: I don't think your perspective is skewed. I took QM as an undergraduate engineer and understood nothing. Years later, I decided I wanted to be a physicist and went back to grad school, and took multiple QM courses in the course of learning to be a HEP experimentalist. I don't think one can understand QM without doing the math. Relativity, one can make sense of that by waving one's hands and doing gedanken experiments (it takes the math to quantify it, but non-physicists can understand simultaneity and clocks and the measurement problem), but QM makes no sense without working through the math. Otherwise it's just someone saying "uncertainty" and "cat" and the listener, canine or otherwise, taking it on faith, no different than religion. Dogs are probably especially fascinated by the possibly dead cat in a box part, but still. @kai: I don’t think your perspective is skewed. I took QM as an undergraduate engineer and understood nothing. Years later, I decided I wanted to be a physicist and went back to grad school, and took multiple QM courses in the course of learning to be a HEP experimentalist. I don’t think one can understand QM without doing the math. Relativity, one can make sense of that by waving one’s hands and doing gedanken experiments (it takes the math to quantify it, but non-physicists can understand simultaneity and clocks and the measurement problem), but QM makes no sense without working through the math. Otherwise it’s just someone saying “uncertainty” and “cat” and the listener, canine or otherwise, taking it on faith, no different than religion.

Dogs are probably especially fascinated by the possibly dead cat in a box part, but still.

]]> By: braininavat http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671902 braininavat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671902 Schrodinger taught quantum physics to his CAT didn't he? And wasn't this back in the 1920's? So dogs just take a bit longer to get it, I guess. Schrodinger taught quantum physics to his CAT didn’t he? And wasn’t this back in the 1920′s? So dogs just take a bit longer to get it, I guess.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671914 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671914 erm, does anyone else have a problem with the phrase "irreducible complexity?" It smacks of the whole "intelligent design" crowd and their unwillingness to actually go and learn about the stuff that they cannot easily understand. (Here, the Calculus and Q.Mech. instead.) -- just saying, you might not want to use that phrase, Cory erm, does anyone else have a problem with the phrase “irreducible complexity?” It smacks of the whole “intelligent design” crowd and their unwillingness to actually go and learn about the stuff that they cannot easily understand. (Here, the Calculus and Q.Mech. instead.) — just saying, you might not want to use that phrase, Cory

]]> By: hordeofmonks http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671916 hordeofmonks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671916 look at this awesome slapdown by cory. just look at it. For those who don't want a too math-intensive mind-blowing relating to quantum mechanics, I recommend David Albert's "Quantum Mechanics and Experience." It deals with the more philosophical aspects of the theory. look at this awesome slapdown by cory. just look at it.

For those who don’t want a too math-intensive mind-blowing relating to quantum mechanics, I recommend David Albert’s “Quantum Mechanics and Experience.” It deals with the more philosophical aspects of the theory.

]]> By: nanuq http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-671918 nanuq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-671918 "So dogs just take a bit longer to get it, I guess." As if cats do anything with <i>their</i> book learning. “So dogs just take a bit longer to get it, I guess.”

As if cats do anything with their book learning.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672187 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672187 If you like the idea of high level physics with a low level attitude I would HIGHLY suggest "Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland", a classic. It teaches modern physics by entering dream worlds where the speed of light is 20km/hr and Planks constant is 1. Google search yielded some free pdf's. Enjoy! If you like the idea of high level physics with a low level attitude I would HIGHLY suggest “Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland”, a classic. It teaches modern physics by entering dream worlds where the speed of light is 20km/hr and Planks constant is 1. Google search yielded some free pdf’s. Enjoy!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672957 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672957 How can you not be interested in any science with poetic language like "spooky action at a distance"? I found this page a long time ago, possibly through BB: http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2007/05/many_worlds_many_treats.php. (Sorry, my link tags never work in comments.) Same author! FTW! I love his question & answer style. Yay, learning! My brain feels good. How can you not be interested in any science with poetic language like “spooky action at a distance”? I found this page a long time ago, possibly through BB: http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2007/05/many_worlds_many_treats.php. (Sorry, my link tags never work in comments.)
Same author! FTW! I love his question & answer style. Yay, learning! My brain feels good.

]]> By: alienmind http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-673473 alienmind Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-673473 Interesting Book as I was just wandering on the net about Quantum Mechanics after reading this humoristic article: How to learn everything for Geeks: On Duality in Quantum Mechanics :) http://howtolearneverything.com/blog/on-duality-in-quantum-mechanics/ Interesting Book as I was just wandering on the net about Quantum Mechanics after reading this humoristic article:
How to learn everything for Geeks: On Duality in Quantum Mechanics :)

http://howtolearneverything.com/blog/on-duality-in-quantum-mechanics/

]]> By: octopod http://boingboing.net/2009/12/22/how-to-teach-physics.html#comment-672201 octopod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-672201 if you mean highschool qm, then do you mean irreducible is bad because you can choose a different basis of eigenvectors depending on what your measuring, or something? perhaps 'inscrutable' rather than 'irreducible' would be more appropriate? if you mean highschool qm, then do you mean irreducible is bad because you can choose a different basis of eigenvectors depending on what your measuring, or something?

perhaps ‘inscrutable’ rather than ‘irreducible’ would be more appropriate?

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