When most of us think of a physicist, the first thing that comes to mind is Einstein. The second name is usually Newton or Hawking. Few of us know the name Richard Feynman and his contributions to physics. Whereas Feynman...
Short life story
Richard P. Feynman was born on May 11, 1918. He is one of the most important physicists of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on quantum electrodynamics.
Born in a small town in New York, Richard P. Feynman understood all aspects of derivative and integral calculus when he was 16 years old. At the age of 17, he entered the MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After earning his bachelor's degree, he studied at Princeton for his doctorate.
In 1942, when the USA entered the war, he was called to the atomic bomb project. He was appointed head of the theoretical division by the physicist Hans Bethe, who fled the Nazis and took refuge in the United States. To calculate the amount of uranium in the atomic bomb project and to test his hypothesis, he conducted a series of experiments without blowing up Los Alamos.
After the war, he followed Bethe and entered Cornell University. Richard P. Feynman developed the Feynman charts in the field of science today, showing here a demonstration of subatomic particles. Richard Feynman, who died in Los Angeles in 1988, had his last words before he died, "I would hate to die twice, it was really boring".
Here are exciting sections from Feynman's life…
* He is considered one of the most important physicists of the 20th century and one of the greatest geniuses history has ever seen. Feynman, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, is a rare genius who prefers to live his life as he pleases. He says that he owes his high energy to embracing life, being open to experiences, maintaining a social life, and chasing the things he loves.
* In 1978, a huge forest fire broke out in the area where Feynman's home was. After the forest fire, Feynman insures his house and also insures against flooding. Everyone is very surprised by this because there is a river etc nearby. there is none. Feynman took out this insurance because he thought there would be erosion, landslides, and flooding due to forest fires. His prediction came true in 1979, and many houses were damaged after heavy rain. Since Feynman was the only one insured against flooding, only his house was insured.
* Feynman used strip clubs as his offices, which he said he had gotten better at and would go there and work out his equations. Once, he goes to testify for a strip club that is trying to be closed due to the complaints of the people around. Except for Feynman, none of the regulars of the club go to testify out of fear. Feynman says in court: "These types of places are a social need, many sections of society go there, workers, technicians, engineers, and a physics professor." Although the club lost the case, it remains open as a similar case is moved to a higher court.
“Besides physics, one of the things my father taught me is not to respect the respectable. For example, when I was little, when the first photos were published in the New York Times, he held me in his arms and showed me a picture. I remember the picture, the Pope and the people bowing before him. 'Look at these people,' he said, 'one person standing, others bowing before him. What is the difference between them? The standing Pope and the only difference are the epaulets!'
Of course, this is not exactly the case for the Pope, but he could have been a general, it was always the uniform, the position that was respected. He has problems like everyone else, he eats like everyone else, and he has problems like other people's problems. He's also a human. So why is he bowing before the others? Because of his name, position, and uniform. Not because he did an amazing job. My father used to make and sell uniforms before I forget. He knew what a difference the uniform made. The same person was metamorphosing with the uniform.”
* Feynman tries to find the smallest country in the world. He discovers a country called Tuva, between the borders of Mongolia and China. Feynman and his friends arrive in Tuva after a long and troubled journey. The Tuvan people welcome Feynman and his friends very well. The country whose name is heard for the first time is instantly recognized, and its music enters the charts.