Who are the top 10 Nobel Prize-winning physicists?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the subjective criteria for ranking the top 10 Nobel Prize-winning physicists, with participants listing their selections, including notable figures such as Einstein, Heisenberg, and Feynman. The conversation highlights the challenge of establishing objective criteria for such rankings, as one participant questions the basis for the selections made. Additionally, Ernest Rutherford is mentioned as a potential inclusion despite winning a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, emphasizing the blurred lines between disciplines. The dialogue reflects a broader debate on the merits of various physicists and the standards used to evaluate their contributions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Nobel Prize categories and their significance
  • Familiarity with key figures in physics and their contributions
  • Knowledge of criteria used for evaluating scientific impact
  • Awareness of historical context in physics advancements
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the contributions of each physicist listed in the discussion
  • Explore the criteria used by Nobel committees for awarding prizes
  • Investigate the impact of interdisciplinary work in physics and chemistry
  • Examine public perceptions of "greatness" in scientific fields
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, historians of science, and anyone interested in the evaluation of scientific contributions and the legacy of Nobel Prize winners.

Ernest S Walton
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So there are now exactly 200 Nobel prize-winning physicists...

Here is my top 10 -

Einstein
Heisenberg
N Bohr
Planck
Schrödinger
Fermi
Feynman
Dirac
Lorentz
Pauli
 
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You might want to add Ernest Rutherford. Although he won for chemistry/"stamp collecting", his work was in physics.

AM
 
Ernest S Walton said:
So there are now exactly 200 Nobel prize-winning physicists...

Here is my top 10 -

Einstein
Heisenberg
N Bohr
Planck
Schrödinger
Fermi
Feynman
Dirac
Lorentz
Pauli

What characteristics actually qualified them to be in your "top 10"? The size of their noses? The length of their hair? Or how adorable they were?

Zz.
 
Andrew Mason said:
You might want to add Ernest Rutherford. Although he won for chemistry/"stamp collecting", his work was in physics.

AM

Yes indeed, and it was also difficult to leave out Born, Gell-Mann, Bardeen among others.

ZapperZ said:
What characteristics actually qualified them to be in your "top 10"? The size of their noses? The length of their hair? Or how adorable they were?

Zz.

I hope your other 30,532 posts are not quite so imbecilic.
 
Ernest S Walton said:
I hope your other 30,532 posts are not quite so imbecilic.

No, some of them were worse. It depends on the level of the topic. I'm very adaptable.

So you did not think my question was even with answering?

We have had many people asking for "best physicist" etc., and the issue had always been what CRITERIA does one use to decide or judge such a thing. It seems that the list you made appear to be rather arbitrary if you do not include how you decide who to include.

So was it?

Zz.
 
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