Who is your favorite physicist and why?

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Discussion Overview

The thread explores participants' favorite physicists and the reasons behind their choices. The discussion includes a variety of perspectives on historical and contemporary figures in physics, touching on their contributions, personalities, and cultural significance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express admiration for Richard Feynman, citing his approachability and commitment to academic integrity.
  • Others favor Schrödinger, with mixed opinions on his character and contributions.
  • Several participants mention historical figures like Newton, Archimedes, and the ancient Greeks, highlighting their foundational roles in physics.
  • Some participants appreciate the ingenuity of Eratosthenes and the discoveries of Robert Hooke.
  • Einstein is noted for his humanitarian efforts and unique contributions, though some express critical views on his personal life.
  • Participants mention a range of physicists, including Fermi, Curie, and Tesla, each for different reasons such as innovation or cultural impact.
  • There are humorous mentions of fictional physicists like Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth and Chuck Norris.
  • Some participants express difficulty in choosing a favorite due to the many great physicists, indicating a subjective nature to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a single favorite physicist, with multiple competing views and preferences expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a variety of personal biases and cultural references, with some participants engaging in light-hearted banter and humor, which may influence their choices.

  • #31
How about Cab Calloway for his work in acoustics:

For every heighdy-heighdy-hi, there is an equal and opposite heighdy-heighdy-ho.
 
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  • #32
For me it's the physicist, engineer, inventor, visionary and showman... Nikola Tesla.
 
  • #33
Pythagorean said:
Since everyone avoided making the generic, trendy answer:

Enstein.

Mostly because he was a humanitarian, but also because of his unique contributions to science.
Ok yes he had great scientific contributions. He was also a self centered jerk. Abandoned one child completely, neglected the rest of his family. Read Isaacson. Screw Einstein.
 
  • #34
Math Jeans said:
Schrödinger all the way!

the English spelling is Schroedinger. The 'oe' replaces the 'o' with the umlaut.
 
  • #35
animalcroc said:
the English spelling is Schroedinger. The 'oe' replaces the 'o' with the umlaut.

Which is hideous and should be banned because the guys name is Schrödinger. Its not too difficult.
 
  • #36
Kurdt said:
Which is hideous and should be banned because the guys name is Schrödinger. Its not too difficult.

OK, how'd you do that?
 
  • #37
î†'s p®é††¥ éåsÿ, âç†üåll¥ :biggrin:.
 
  • #38
You can use Microsoft Alt-key codes if you use IE. ö is Alt+0246. You can find lists of alt-key codes all over the web. Here is one:

http://www.frontpagewizard.com/use_alt_keys.asp

:smile:
 
  • #39
Šooo... Whoa, that is so majorly cool!

גם*עברית

No way. No way no way no way.

Thank you very kindly... COOL!
 
  • #40
Im upset guys

Hei guys

I think you all forgot Max Planck, he is the greatest physicist ever, since he was the one who started to think in a new way. and if he did not think like that, nowadays we have no technology at all.

IQ
 
  • #41
Since it's favorite and not best, I go for Eric Rogers.
 
  • #42
Chuck Norris.
 
  • #43
Richard Feynman and Einstein ...

because of there physical intuition.

Physics, for me, distinguishes itself by the fact that it's based on simple pictures. Sure, math is the language of physics, but I enjoy thinking about simple pictures. I believe AE and RF excelled in this area.
 
  • #44
My two mentors R.P. Hurst and F.L. Madarasz.

But if I had to pick a hot one, Lisa Randall at Harvard...
 
  • #45
Einstein, Dirac, Feynman, Schwinger, Witten.
 
  • #46
Newton!
 
  • #47
mgb_phys

He/she pretty much answers all my physics questions...:)
 
  • #48
jobyts said:
mgb_phys

He/she pretty much answers all my physics questions...:)

Doc AI for me too :biggrin:
 
  • #49
The ones with lopsided hair!

http://hem.passagen.se/asystem/PH/Gallery/Dirac.jpg
Dirac

landau.jpg

Landau

Coincidence?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #50
My favorites:

1. Albert Einstein
2. Niels Bohr
3. Richard Feynman
4. Lev Landau
5. William Burke
 
  • #51
Hmmm... I can't choose between Schrödinger and his womanizing or Dirac and his taciturn nature.
 
  • #52
Karl G. said:
Hmmm... I can't choose between Schrödinger and his womanizing or Dirac and his taciturn nature.
If you choose Schrödinger - does he collapse?
 
  • #53
Azael said:
Fermi no doubt.

If Enrico Fermi is so great, why did they name such a small unit of measure after him. You almost have to feel bad for the guy when you hear men bragging that they're 150 trillion fermis.

I wonder who has the largest unit of measure named after them.
 
Last edited:
  • #54
My female colleague. At the moment.
 
  • #55
It changes quite a bit, but currently..

1. Feynman
2. Maxwell
3. William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)
4. Einstein
 
  • #56
Fermi and (a step lower) Feynman
 
  • #57
BobG said:
I wonder who has the largest unit of measure named after them.

Buzz Lightyear ?
 
  • #58
BobG said:
If Enrico Fermi is so great, why did they name such a small unit of measure after him. You almost have to feel bad for the guy when you hear men bragging that they're 150 trillion fermis.

I wonder who has the largest unit of measure named after them.

Maybe Barnes
 
  • #59
B. Elliott said:
For me it's the physicist, engineer, inventor, visionary and showman... Nikola Tesla.
Damn stright Tesla was the man! Damn that bastard Edison.
EDIT: although he's technically more of an engineer, i don't care.
 
  • #60
1. Einstein
2. Newton
 

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