Contribution to physics- who should be included?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying key contributors to the evolution of physics for a brief speech. Participants suggest notable physicists and debate the inclusion or exclusion of certain figures based on their significance and relevance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant lists several physicists, including Archimedes, Kepler, Newton, Faraday, Planck, Heisenberg, Maxwell, Einstein, Feynman, Dirac, and Hawking, seeking feedback on their relevance and whether any should be omitted.
  • Another participant suggests adding Aristotle and Galileo, emphasizing their importance in the history of physics.
  • Some participants agree on the necessity of including Galileo while suggesting that Hawking could be omitted due to uncertainty about his lasting fame.
  • A humorous take on the history of physics is presented, summarizing the contributions of Newton, Maxwell, Einstein, and Heisenberg in a light-hearted manner, indicating the paradox of knowledge in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is a general agreement on the importance of including Galileo, while opinions differ on the relevance of Hawking and other figures. The discussion remains unresolved regarding which physicists should ultimately be included or excluded from the speech.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the lasting impact of certain physicists, particularly Hawking, and the limitations of time for the speech may affect the selection of contributors.

charmedbeauty
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Hi all I have to do a quick 5 minute speech just about the evolution of physics...

My general idea is just to go back say from Archimedes~ to currently who has been the main contributors to physics?

Obviously it's only a 5 minute speech so not everyone can get a mention but I would like to name the physicist and give a brief description of what they have achieved.

So far...

Archimedes~buoyancy
Kepler~ planetary laws of motion
Newton~Motion,Gravitation,Cooling
Faraday~Faraday's Laws of Induction and Electrolysis
Planck~Law of radiation
Heisenberg~uncertainty
Maxwell~Electromagnetism
Einstein~Special and General relativity
Feynman&Dirac~quantum phys
Hawking~black hole radiation.

Is there anyone I have missed or even I can take of the list as I really don't have enough time to cover all these physicist's work.

The one's I am thinking of taking of please tell me if I shouldn't...
Archimedes, Planck, Faraday or Maxwell or is it possible to combine them?Hawking?

Please some feedback!

:)
 
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I would mention Aristotle and Galileo. They are often used to describe the evolution of physics (and science in general) and for a good reason.
 
Yes you should add Galileo, and you can leave out Hawking. I would not know one that we are sure to be famous two centuries from now.
 
harrylin said:
Yes you should add Galileo, and you can leave out Hawking. I would not know one that we are sure to be famous two centuries from now.

Good point!

Definitely Galileo, completely forgot about him. Thanks...

anyone else I could take out??
 
The history of physics.

Newton: Even though you can tell if you are speeding up, you can't tell how fast you are going.
Maxwell: Yes you can.
Einstein: No you can't. You can't even tell if you are speeding up.
Heisenberg: Either you don't know where you are or you don't know where you're going.

Physics in a nutshell: The more you know about physics, the less you know about the world you live in.
 
Jimmy Snyder said:
The history of physics.

Newton: Even though you can tell if you are speeding up, you can't tell how fast you are going.
Maxwell: Yes you can.
Einstein: No you can't. You can't even tell if you are speeding up.
Heisenberg: Either you don't know where you are or you don't know where you're going.

Physics in a nutshell: The more you know about physics, the less you know about the world you live in.

This is a gem!

:smile::smile:
 
Jimmy Snyder said:
The history of physics.

Newton: Even though you can tell if you are speeding up, you can't tell how fast you are going.
Maxwell: Yes you can.
Einstein: No you can't. You can't even tell if you are speeding up.
Heisenberg: Either you don't know where you are or you don't know where you're going.

Physics in a nutshell: The more you know about physics, the less you know about the world you live in.

Hahaha this pretty much sums it up!
 

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