Download Anecdotes in the Lives of Some Prominent Physicists behind The

Anecdotes in the Lives of Some Prominent Physicists behind
The Modern Wave/Particle Physics Revolution
Mike Broyles
Professor of Physics
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When I started my teaching career, I spent considerable time reviewing the concepts that
I thought I knew well in order to present them to first time students. After a few years of
this type of routine, I realized that I was teaching the concepts and theory in a “vacuum,”
that is, the knowledge was being presented but without regards to who discovered it,
how, why, and under what circumstances in a social context. In recent years, I have
introduced new concepts and theory with little anecdotes and stories about those
scientists that I believed might interest or even amuse the students. For example, when
we introduce Isaac Newton and how he virtually isolated himself to concentrate on the
task at hand. He loved his cats but did not like to keep going to the door to left them in or
out at various times, so being the “brilliant creator” that he was, cut holes in the door
allowing the cats to enter as they pleased. The holes, however, were cut in different
diameters, with the larger holes for the larger cats and the smaller holes for the smaller
cats. Unfortunately, I do not have a follow-up to this story to tell you as to whether or
not the cats used the right-sized holes.
In a physics class as we were discussing the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales,
the question came up as why Daniel Fahrenheit decided on 180 divisions between the
freezing and boiling point of water, whereas, there are only 100 on the Celsius
temperature scale (a more logical number). One of my students indicated that there was
an interesting story about Daniel Fahrenheit that he read about and would bring to class
some material on that little story.
We all know about the Albert Einstein in explaining the photoelectric effect, as well as
his contributions to special and general relativity. Were there any circumstances in his
personal life that may have motivated him in his work? I have located some works that
relate some rather interesting things about Einstein that are not conveyed in standard
textbooks. Einstein had a summer cottage on Long Island and was visited by a variety of
personages including movie stars.
Max Planck developed the modern concept of the quantum theory examined the
philosophical side of physics and makes a distinction between physics per se and general
philosophy. Max Planck was a true intellectual in his field and I expect to gain some
insight into his personal character in reading his “Philosophy of Physics” and “Dilemmas
of an Upright Man: ….Max Planck initiated the modern quantum theory but has a strong
nationalistic view of science.
I believe teaching any subject and bringing in the “human-side” of the discovery is an
effective method of teaching but requires considerable preparation and reading outside of
the standard textbook to prepare. Modern physics, the era that usually encompasses
quantum physics begins with the discovery of the atom and the nature of particles around
1900. The quantum theory that Max Planck announced in 1900, as extended by other
physicists like Albert Einstein, Neils Bohr, Louis de Broglie, Arthur Compton, Werner
Heisenberg, Erwin Schrodinger lead to the realization that particles or mass can be
described by wave characteristics as well. Views or preconceptions held by some of
these physicists (ie. Einstein refusing to fully accept a wave-particle duality) may have
ultimately limited their contributions to this field. Humorous events in the lives of these
people also can add to the interest of this subject.
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Study Plan
The rationale for my study plan to read “behind-the-scenes” that lead to the
development of theories of the duality of the wave-particle nature of matter. I would like
to know what kind of thinking stimulated the amazing breakthroughs of these physicists.
What motivated these scientists, what was the social climate like at that time, did they
have any hobbies or interests that may have influenced their thoughts? For example,
Louis de Broglie had a strong musical background which probably influenced his ideas
on the wave nature of matter. Richard Feynman developed “Feyman Diagrams” for
“virtual particles” which some could see as an artistic rendition. Why did Werner
Heisenberg come up with basically a negative theory, one cannot know simultaneously
both the position and momentum of a mass particle.? Heisenberg was one of the few
physicists of the modern atomic age that chose to remain in Germany in World War II as
the Nazi party seized control. Why did he remain behind? Was this loyalty to country or
other reasons that are not fully understood by some of his peers?
The purpose of this study grant is twofold: for my personal enrichment in the literature
describing the lives of some of the leading physicists of the wave/particle revolution. By
reading outside of the textbook realm, I will have a more complete picture of possibly
how and why these discoveries were made. In addition, I will be looking for some
otherwise obscure anecdotal stories that I can relate to my students. The second purpose
of my study is for my students’enrichment. I give extra-credit assignments for all my
courses and students pick up on ideas and personages as they are discussed in class. I
want my students to learn more than what the standard textbook has to offer.
Another reason for my interest in this grant is to foster an interdisciplinary rapport
between faculty in different departments.
How often do physics faculty communicate in subject matter areas with faculty in
philosophy and sociology, for example. A “great books” weekly seminar or a “catchy
topic” might gain the interest of divergent faculty members. Could the college offer a
course such as, “The History of Science” or “Ancient Science” as either a credit or noncredit course?
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Study Plan Schedule
These are the books that I initially have on my reading list but will make reasonable
substitutions depending upon content and availability.
Weeks 1-2: I plan to commerce my study with Dilemmas of an Upright Man: Max
Planck and the Fortunes of German Science by J. L. Heilbron. Max Planck is credited
with starting the modern the wave/particle theories and in my opinion an excellent place
to start. I have also included Max Planck’s” Philosophy of Physics.
Weeks 3-4: I located a biography of Albert Einstein entitled; Einstein: A Centenary
Volume by A. P. French. I also found an article in The Physics Teacher, “Einstein in My
Hometown,” by Karl Mamola. Einstein extended Planck’s theory to successfully explain
the Photoelectric Effect and received the Nobel Prize.
Weeks 5-6: I plan to read, Wave Mechanics;: The First Fifty Years, A tribute to
Professor Louis de Broglie—by Louis de Broglie and others.
Weeks 7-9 I believe that this would be a good time to read Physics and Philosophy: The
Revolution in Modern Science by Werner Heisenberg. Why at this time are we setting
limits on the measurements of scientific knowledge in the flurry of the incredible
discoveries being made in quantum mechanics? This has been a pressing question for
me! A remarkable book by Werner’s wife Elisabeth Heisenberg, Inner Exile:
Recollections of a Life with Werner Heisenberg may provide some answers as to why he
decided to remain in Germany and not flee the Nazi take-over as did other peers of his
time.
Weeks 10-11: I would like to know more about Paul Dirac and his discovery of
antimatter. I plan to read Paul Dirac: The Man and his Work by Abraham Pais. I was
fortunate to be able to hear this Nobel Laureate give a talk back in the late 1970s at the
University of Hawaii and I thought that he was an interesting individual in addition to
being a frontier physicist.
Weeks 12-13. Richard Feynman has been a fascinating figure in the history of particle
physics. I would like to know more about his life and times by reading Genius, The Life
and Science of Richard Feynman by James Gleick.
Weeks 14-15: To summarize I plan to pursue a work by Bill Bryson, A Short History of
Nearly Everything. The modern wave/particle revolution is put into perspective and
summarized in a few short chapters and I see this book as a good way to tie together
some otherwise loose ends in this remarkable field of physics.
The Second Creation by Robert Crease and Charles Mann is on my list as a
comprehensive review of important developments in 20th Century physics.
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