Gift Ideas for Physics Lovers - My Cousin & Me

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around gift ideas for a cousin interested in physics, particularly in the context of her desire for a telescope. Participants explore various perspectives on interests in physics and astronomy, and the appropriateness of gift suggestions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests a telescope as a desired gift but notes its high cost, prompting a search for alternatives.
  • Another participant questions whether the cousin's interest in a telescope indicates a genuine interest in physics or merely a desire to observe stars.
  • Some participants argue that an interest in astronomy can coexist with a passion for physics, sharing personal experiences that reflect this dual interest.
  • A suggestion is made to consider a cheaper telescope paired with a good camera to encourage photography as a related hobby.
  • One participant mentions the idea of a TI-89 calculator as a potential gift, but it is noted that the cousin already owns one.
  • There is a discussion about the age of the cousin and the appropriateness of gifts for different age groups.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether an interest in astronomy equates to an interest in physics. Some agree that both interests can coexist, while others remain skeptical about the cousin's motivations based on her gift request.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the cousin's age and the depth of her interest in physics versus astronomy, which influences the gift suggestions being discussed.

Jow
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My cousin, like me, is interested in physics. She, also like me, aspires to become a physicist. For Christmas she wanted a telescope, unfortunately, the one she wanted was $2000, and her mother was not willing to buy her something so expensive as they had just recently returned from a very expensive vacation. Anyway, her mother has come to me asking what she should get her daughter. I have already recommended a copy of the Feynman Lectures but other than that I couldn't think of anything else. What would you give someone like me or my cousin?
 
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Is she nerdy in general? I would love a lot of things from http://www.thinkgeek.com/ or Innovatoys.
 
Jow said:
… For Christmas she wanted a telescope, unfortunately, the one she wanted was $2000 …

(how old is she?)

i don't buy this

if she asked for a telescope, she isn't interested in physics, she's interested in looking at the stars (etc)

i can't see anything non-star-related satisfying her

i say, buy her a really cheap telescope and a really good camera that she can attach, and encourage her to take up photography! :smile:
 
if she asked for a telescope, she isn't interested in physics, she's interested in looking at the stars
I'm interested in looking at stars, and I'm interested in physics. You can be interested in both.

Or maybe she's a genius and she likes to personally calculate different characteristics about the orbits of planets.
 
leroyjenkens said:
I'm interested in looking at stars, and I'm interested in physics. You can be interested in both.

I'm the same. I was drawn to physics because I wanted to be an astronomer as a kid, and while I'm now more interested in nuclear and particle physics, I still can't help but look up at night, take trips to observatories, etc.
 
OP either has more context than us and she is interested in physics, or OP is generalizing star-gazing as an interest in physics. Hard to tell from OP.

I'm looking for something to get my 3 year old that's not a meaningless plastic toy. Could augment her duplo lego collection...
 
How about a TI-89?
 
Topher925 said:
How about a TI-89?

She has one
 
if she asked for a telescope, she isn't interested in physics, she's interested in looking at the stars (etc)

My Grandmother's nephew wanted to be an astronomer when he was young, now he is a physicist...
 
  • #10
seaofghosts said:
I'm the same. I was drawn to physics because I wanted to be an astronomer as a kid, and while I'm now more interested in nuclear and particle physics, I still can't help but look up at night, take trips to observatories, etc.

:biggrin::blushing:
 

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