Comments on: The Ten Most Beautiful Physics Experiments http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:54:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tea Leaf » 历史上最漂亮的 10 个物理实验 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9882 Tea Leaf » 历史上最漂亮的 10 个物理实验 Tue, 14 Feb 2006 02:07:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9882 [...] 10 个历史上最漂亮的物理实验（via: CosmicVariance） [...] [...] 10 个历史上最漂亮的物理实验（via: CosmicVariance） [...]

]]> By: Westringia F. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9883 Westringia F. Thu, 19 Jan 2006 22:57:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9883 Hmm: this (ex)lurker is particularly fond of <strong>Stern-Gerlach</strong>. Hmm: this (ex)lurker is particularly fond of Stern-Gerlach.

]]> By: 【格志】 历史上最漂亮的 10 个物理实验 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9871 【格志】 历史上最漂亮的 10 个物理实验 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:03:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9871 [...] 10 个历史上最漂亮的物理实验（via: CosmicVariance） [...] [...] 10 个历史上最漂亮的物理实验（via: CosmicVariance） [...]

]]> By: Thomas Palm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9881 Thomas Palm Thu, 12 Jan 2006 08:20:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9881 I'd nominate the original finding of Poisson's spot, because it so clearly shows the scientific method: Fresnel: I've come up with a wonderful new theory of light. Pascal: Your theory is absurd, it predicts that there will be a bright spot in the middle of a shadow! Arago: I did the experiment, and that spot really is there. I’d nominate the original finding of Poisson’s spot, because it so clearly shows the scientific method:
Fresnel: I’ve come up with a wonderful new theory of light.

Pascal: Your theory is absurd, it predicts that there will be a bright spot in the middle of a shadow!
Arago: I did the experiment, and that spot really is there.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9880 Clifford Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:37:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9880 LOL! :-D -cvj LOL! :-D

-cvj

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9879 Mark Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:27:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9879 Sean - sorry - I guess I've revealed myself as one of those people who uses <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/?author=-2" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/?author=-2</a> on a daily basis. I guess it's OK now that <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/10/fine-tune-your-cosmic-variance/" rel="nofollow">you've told everyone else about the trick</a>. Sean – sorry – I guess I’ve revealed myself as one of those people who uses http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/?author=-2 on a daily basis. I guess it’s OK now that you’ve told everyone else about the trick.

]]> By: Plato http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9878 Plato Wed, 11 Jan 2006 23:56:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9878 <b>Clifford</b>:<a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/08/quick-hits/" rel="nofollow"><blockquote>Sean, your post represents quite a coincidence, given the post I've been preparing.... up in as short time..... -cvj</blockquote></a> Some minds at times, think alike? Non! Oui! So how about this then. Clifford, you travelled back in time and knew what Sean was going to post? Is this a "layover effect" from travelling "back to the future?" I like these kind of stories. :) Clifford:
Sean, your post represents quite a coincidence, given the post I’ve been preparing…. up in as short time….. -cvj

Some minds at times, think alike? Non! Oui!

So how about this then.

Clifford, you travelled back in time and knew what Sean was going to post? Is this a “layover effect” from travelling “back to the future?”

I like these kind of stories. :)

]]> By: Uncle Al http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9877 Uncle Al Wed, 11 Jan 2006 23:37:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9877 Double slit diffraction with the first maximum opposite the <em>barrier</em> is good. I especially like Poisson's spot using a projector without a slide inserted and an unopened soft drink can inserted between lens and screen with its long axis parallel to the light path. Millikan did some raw data cleanup to remove fractional charges. Perhaps they should have gone for the full kan. Among ongoing experiments I like the the CERN Axion Solar Telescope and its friends, http://cast.web.cern.ch/CAST/CASTwebB/CAST.htm http://www.icepp.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~minowa/Minowa_Group.files/sumico.htm http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~axion/Welcome.html http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~tanner/axion-papers.html Supersymmetry is like the Department of Education and Project Head Start. Every experiment demonstrates supersymmetry has no observables. Supersymmetry is therefore true - and only lacks a confirming experiment. Double slit diffraction with the first maximum opposite the barrier is good. I especially like Poisson’s spot using a projector without a slide inserted and an unopened soft drink can inserted between lens and screen with its long axis parallel to the light path. Millikan did some raw data cleanup to remove fractional charges. Perhaps they should have gone for the full kan.

Among ongoing experiments I like the the CERN Axion Solar Telescope and its friends,

http://cast.web.cern.ch/CAST/CASTwebB/CAST.htm
http://www.icepp.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~minowa/Minowa_Group.files/sumico.htm
http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~axion/Welcome.html
http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~tanner/axion-papers.html

Supersymmetry is like the Department of Education and Project Head Start. Every experiment demonstrates supersymmetry has no observables. Supersymmetry is therefore true – and only lacks a confirming experiment.

]]> By: Plato http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9876 Plato Wed, 11 Jan 2006 23:34:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9876 Hey, sometimes <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/08/quick-hits/" rel="nofollow">humourous</a> and sometimes serious. Overlaps are bound to happen, even with Clifford's list of, "five of ten." As a Focker :), I don't consider "my blog" part of this circle of trust yet :( So I am a innocent. Hey, sometimes humourous and sometimes serious.

Overlaps are bound to happen, even with Clifford’s list of, “five of ten.”

As a Focker :) , I don’t consider “my blog” part of this circle of trust yet :( So I am a innocent.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9869 Clifford Wed, 11 Jan 2006 22:43:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9869 Give him a break! It's easy for the good stuff to get missed in all the noise about buses and planes and bikes and oranges and noodles...... -cvj Give him a break! It’s easy for the good stuff to get missed in all the noise about buses and planes and bikes and oranges and noodles……

-cvj

]]> By: Sean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9870 Sean Wed, 11 Jan 2006 22:36:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9870 Man, some people don't even read their own blogs. Man, some people don’t even read their own blogs.

]]> By: JJ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9875 JJ Wed, 11 Jan 2006 21:06:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9875 The experiment number 2 ( Galileo dropping balls from the top of the Pisa Tower ) probably never took place in any case. Besides, it is equivalent to the experiment number 8 (balls rolling down inclined planes). So I guess a different experiment may be included. Besides the already mentioned Michelson Morley others worth considering are the Eotvös experiment, the Coulomb determinacion of the electic force; and for a more recent one , the experiment performed by Aspect. The experiment number 2 ( Galileo dropping balls from the top of the Pisa Tower ) probably never took place in any case. Besides, it is equivalent to the experiment number 8 (balls rolling down inclined planes). So I guess a different experiment may be included. Besides the already mentioned Michelson Morley others worth considering are the Eotvös experiment, the Coulomb determinacion of the electic force; and for a more recent one , the experiment performed by Aspect.

]]> By: Not a String Theorist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9874 Not a String Theorist Wed, 11 Jan 2006 20:02:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9874 Definitely the Michelson-Morley experiment. Have you read their paper? It's a wonderful example of scientific writing, when the physics was on the cusp of the modern era. Definitely the Michelson-Morley experiment. Have you read their paper? It’s a wonderful example of scientific writing, when the physics was on the cusp of the modern era.

]]> By: bittergradstudent http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9873 bittergradstudent Wed, 11 Jan 2006 19:29:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9873 Does roemer's calculation of the speed of light using the moons of Jupiter count as an experiment? Because that still amazes me. Also, why not the Michelson-Morey experiment? Does roemer’s calculation of the speed of light using the moons of Jupiter count as an experiment? Because that still amazes me.

Also, why not the Michelson-Morey experiment?

]]> By: Plato http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/comment-page-1/#comment-9872 Plato Wed, 11 Jan 2006 19:27:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/01/11/the-ten-most-beautiful-physics-experiments/#comment-9872 I think Sean alluded to this earlier Mark. What was important is that corrections were made if one followed through? But I take it, there is more there then in terms of reporting, and the mistakes that were made, versus the legitamcy of how and what is being transmitted? I think this is what Sean alluded to in his reporting? He'd have to respond to that. A Sokal Affair, on a much more simplistic level? <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/24/science/24BEAU.html?ei=5062&en=d110cb64250fdf6a&ex=1033444800&partner=GOOGLE&pagewanted=all&position=top" rel="nofollow"><blockquote>Correction: September 27, 2002, Friday An article in Science Times on Tuesday about the experiments selected by physicists as the 10 most beautiful in history <b>referred incorrectly at one point to the magazine edited by Peter Rodgers, which first printed the list. It is Physics World, not Physics Today</b>. A painting with the article, identified as an image of Henry Cavendish, was published in error. It showed another 18th-century scientist, Joseph Priestley, who did not figure in the list. Correction: October 7, 2002, Monday An article in Science Times on Sept. 24 about physicists' selections of the 10 most beautiful experiments misstated a portion of Newton's theory of gravity, cited in a discussion of Cavendish's torsion-bar experiment. Newton held that the strength of attraction between two objects increases with the product of their masses, not with the square of their masses.</blockquote></a> I may be wrong here. :) I think Sean alluded to this earlier Mark.

What was important is that corrections were made if one followed through? But I take it, there is more there then in terms of reporting, and the mistakes that were made, versus the legitamcy of how and what is being transmitted?

I think this is what Sean alluded to in his reporting? He’d have to respond to that. A Sokal Affair, on a much more simplistic level?


Correction: September 27, 2002, Friday An article in Science Times on Tuesday about the experiments selected by physicists as the 10 most beautiful in history referred incorrectly at one point to the magazine edited by Peter Rodgers, which first printed the list. It is Physics World, not Physics Today.

A painting with the article, identified as an image of Henry Cavendish, was published in error. It showed another 18th-century scientist, Joseph Priestley, who did not figure in the list.
Correction: October 7, 2002, Monday An article in Science Times on Sept. 24 about physicists’ selections of the 10 most beautiful experiments misstated a portion of Newton’s theory of gravity, cited in a discussion of Cavendish’s torsion-bar experiment. Newton held that the strength of attraction between two objects increases with the product of their masses, not with the square of their masses.

I may be wrong here. :)

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