There are two ways we can think about the "basics" of anything. One is to consider the simplest, least complex aspects of a thing. The other is to consider that
thing's most fundamental or elemental aspects.
Let us take, as an example, the American game, football. A fan might explain the "basics" of the game in terms of yard lines, first downs, running and passing plays, and
touchdowns. However, a coach probably thinks of the "basics" as the fundamentals of blocking, tackling, ball control, clock management, and mental preparations.
So it is as Mr. Feynman sets out to explain "basic"
physics, his explanation deals less with simple elements than with the fundamentals, the foundations of physics. He guides us through a tour of the very building blocks of our physical world.
Introduction
First,
Feynman sets the ground rules by stating something we might call a "calculus of physics." Generally speaking, physics is a means of explaining a "multitude of aspects as perhaps relating from the action of a relatively
small number of elemental things and forces acting in an infinite variety of combinations."
In other words, by comprehending a "relatively small number of elemental things and forces," then accepting that those things
and forces can interact "in an infinite variety of combinations," we can explain the physical world around us. To do that, of course, it is necessary to generalize, to find those aspects that apparently diverse things
have in common.
From that premise, Feynman takes on the scientific method. Essential to any understanding of science or scientific phenomena is a comprehension of the scientific method.
The scientific method is the
accepted procedure for finding answers to questions related to science. It also works well for other areas of human experience, but originated in science.
The scientific method is made up of a series of steps that
form a process for "doing" science. Those steps include, in Feynman's version:
Observation
Reason
Experiment
Using this approach, scientists reach conclusions about reality. They observe, reason (that is, make
a guess or tentative conclusion), create an experiment, then observe again. The cyclical nature of the scientific method makes it possible for us to understand ever more complex issues in the realm of science.
However, shortly after articulating the scientific method, Feynman raises doubts about our ability to understand the world at all. He compares our world to a massive "chess game" being played, in his phrase, by "the
gods."
A little later, he argues that even the things we know from "the rules" are very limited. The world, according to Mr. Feynman, is so "enormously complicated" as to defy real codification into a set of "rules."
For people of faith, this observation from so brilliant a mind calls to our attention the incredible power and intelligence of God. It seems that the more we learn using the scientific method, the more we understand our
own ignorance.
This is very important. For the rest of the chapter, Feynman is going to take us into more and more detail about the properties of our physical universe. As you read, you might notice that his
certainty about those properties seems to decrease until, at the very end of the chapter, he contends that, "We seem gradually to be groping toward an understanding of the world of sub-atomic particles, but we really do
not know how far we have yet to go in this task."
I would observe that in the forty or so years since Feynman made the lectures that resulted in "Three Easy Pieces," great progress has been made in our understanding
of sub-atomic particles. However, even now, "…we really do not know how far we have yet to go…"
One thing we do seem to know, though, is that the world is at least as complex below the atomic level as it is above.
("Below the atomic level" suggests that scientists are studying particles smaller than an atom.) Feynman uses a description of essential physics to telescope our understanding into ever-smaller spheres.
Physics Before 1920
Feynman begins with the foundation that all things are set on a "stage" of space and time. Further, all things are "particles" (such as the atoms we observed last week) and some things have
"properties."
Those properties include "inertia," which calls for a particle to keep moving unless acted upon by the second property, "force." He further divides "force" into two general categories, "gravitational
pull" and "electrical charge."
Feynman is especially fascinated—and rightly so—by electrical force, which he contends is actually much, much stronger than gravity. Without electrical force, by which like items repel,
the world would simply collapse of gravitational force! (See his explanation on pages 28-30.)
Further, the nature of electrical force—like items repel, unlike items attract—creates an "oscillatory influence." Charges
create a field and the negative and positive charges in that field cause particles to move. These movements create the "electromagnetic field."
The electromagnetic field, in turn carries "waves." Some of these waves
are light waves; some radio (AM, FM, TV), radar, and some are transferred into the human eye within the visible light prism.
So a broad spectrum of our reality is determined by the behavior of particles and forces,
just as Feynman predicted in the Introduction to this chapter.
Quantum Physics
Despite the scary title, it is not our objective in this section to understand quantum physics. That is another topic for another day!
However, the essence of quantum physics is very important to us. In Feynman's words, "…things on a small scale behave nothing like things on a large scale." This is amazing! Scientists are finding that as we become able
to observe smaller and smaller particles, there is another entire universe within the structure of the universe!
This concept is changing the way scientists think about almost everything. Feynman, perhaps arrogantly,
contends that when it comes to "large" items we know pretty much everything. But the observations scientists are making about the "micro world" are incredible.
Some of the observations that result from quantum physics
seem obvious, if subtle. For example, a particle cannot have both a definite location and a definite speed.
If you think of a car driving down the highway, it is true that it cannot have a defined speed and a precise
location at the same time, because it is in motion. In our vernacular, we might say that we were going 75 miles per hour at mile marker 55. However, technically speaking, we could either be going 75 miles per hour (in
motion) or we could be at mile marker 55 (a precise location) but not both. Try using that one next time you get pulled over for speeding!
Another profound impact of quantum physics is the observation, according to
Feynman, "…that it is fundamentally impossible to make a precise prediction of exactly what will happen in a given moment." (p. 35) Therefore, "…it is not possible to predict exactly what will happen in any
circumstance."
This seems to fly in the face of the scientific method (Observation, reason, experiment). However, Feynman contends (p. 36) that the rules of science have not changed: "(T)he sole test of the validity
of any idea is experiment."
The key to understanding this apparent contradiction is to consider the importance of the ability to measure. The more sophisticated our ability to measure, the more precise our results.
The more precise our results, the less alike the results from any two (or more) experiments.
Our ability to measure influences our expectations about precision. And it impacts our ability to understand the world.
A
wise man asked once, "If you take a teacup of water from the sea, do you change the sea level?" The answer is "yes." The only question is, "by how much." Our ability to measure—the sea level, in this case—determines our
ability to understand the great questions we face.
If we choose to see it this way, quantum physics and its revelations about the incredible sub-atomic universe, reveal God's amazing work. We find that the seemingly
infinitely small sub-atomic world is incomprehensible to us, just as is the seemingly infinitely large external universe. All of it, if we think it so, is evidence of the majesty, the power, and the omnipotence of our
God.
