Insights Think you know Richard Feynman? - comments

[PeterDonis]

8/12, would have been 10/12 if I had trusted my first instinct on two questions (Brazil and Professor).

Also I'm not sure about question 10. I answered 1 in 100, while the "correct" answer is given as 1 in 200. What is the source for that number? In his famous Appendix F to the commission report (famous enough for me to have borrowed its last sentence for my sig, anyway ), the final estimate is given as "on the order of a percent" (i.e., 1 in 100). The number 1 in 200 doesn't appear anywhere.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What is the source for that number?

I think I found it on his wiki page

 

[PeterDonis]

I think I found it on his wiki page

Ah, another illustration of how Wikipedia can't always be trusted. I see the "1 in 200" figure there, but the only source given is Appendix F to the commission report, which I linked to, and which does not contain that figure anywhere. The only figure I think is justified by that document (which is the correct primary source) is "1 in 100". The two key quotes from that document are, first, from the opening paragraph:

"The estimates range from roughly 1 in 100 to 1 in 100,000. The higher figures come from the working engineers, and the very low figures from management."

Second, from the conclusion:

"They [the Shuttles] therefore fly in a relatively unsafe condition, with a chance of failure of the order of a percent (it is difficult to be more accurate)."

(The Wiki page does mention Feynman's book, What Do You Care What Other People Think, the second half of which is his telling the story of the Challenger investigation. It's possible that the "1 in 200" figure is given somewhere in there; I don't have my copy handy to check. Even if it is, though, I would say the "official" primary source is still the Appendix F document, so I should still get 1 more point of credit for this quiz, which is of course my real agenda here. )

 

[technotoltec]

5 correct

though i knew he painted some, but wasn't he passionate about drumming.

 

[Xsnac]

6/12

 

[Franco_Carr14]

10/12, his books are so inspirational in my opinion,

 

[phion]

I can't believe my score. I read so many of his books...

 

[Dembadon]

Scored 8.

Honestly, I guessed on a couple, so let's say 6.

 

[fireflies]

Well, I just know his name. I haven't read so much about scientists. So, all the questions I left unanswered. But the comment says I must read about him :)

 

[tommyxu3]

Got 3 wrong... I don't know his IQ...

 

[BWV]

10/12

Just finished the audiobook of the Lawrence Krauss bio. Krauss uses the 1/200 number for Challenger

 

[Hornbein]

10/12

#2 needs to be changed to "drawing". And I'll need a citation for #5. I know that Richard Cytowic thinks Feynman had synesthesia, but I don't believe Feynman, himself, made any such claim.

Feynam said that he saw equations flying around in all sorts of colors.

I got 8, having read the books about ten years ago.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Feynam said that he saw equations flying around in all sorts of colors.

I need chapter and verse from Feynman's mouth. I want to know the context.

 

[Strum]

scored 3 :(

 

[epenguin]

'Satisfactory' 6/12 despite having read two biogs and an autobiography, his essays, QED and parts of Lectures.
But some of those fails don't worry me. Too bad sister didn't leave vivid impression on me. Those numbers were just a guess. What's syneasthesia? Why did he need a van?

 

[WhatIsGravity]

8

 

[pabilbado]

10/12

 

[beamie564]

I got 4 and failed.
By the way I don't know about him as he is not talked about in high school as Einstein is talked about.
Just took the quiz for seeing my luck.
2 answers I knew, other were guesses.

There is error in question 5 of "what condition he had"
It's showing the wrong answer that I have chosen but not the correct one.

Post your scores :)

11 out of 12 :)

 

[RabbitWho]

7! Woo! I might be below average at physics but at least I'm a "satisfactory" fan-girl. :)

 

[Isaac0427]

I got a 4, but I didn't think I knew him that well.

 

[S Buschmann]

5/12. Fun quiz. His daughter published a book of his letters to her.

 

[Demystifier]

Only 6/12.

 

[srikanth tupurani]

i got 5. i was not sure about the guide of feynamann. i made a random guess. i got it correct surprising.