Science Diary: Physics - Science of Humility: The Pulse of the Planet daily radio program offers free legal online mp3 downloads, exploring the world of sound in nature, culture and science, with audio adventures, world music, extraordinary sound portraits, science diaries, and nature ring-tones; an amazing sonic experience.



Airdate: Aug 20, 2008
Scientist: Micha Kilburn

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 PHYSICS ,Particle Physics ,scientific method ,problem solving


Science Diary: Physics - Science of Humility

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For an apprentice, experimental physics can be a humbling endeavor.
Transcript:

music; ambience: laboratory sounds

To me, physics is the art of problem solving and the science of humility.

Welcome to Pulse of the Planets Science Diaries, a glimpse of the world of science from the inside. Were in the lab with Micha Kilburn, a graduate student of physics at Michigan State University. Shes trying to learn more about the elements that make up our world. But learning the ropes of being an experimental physicist can be a matter of trial and error.

ambience: working in the lab

Every day down here when were setting up for an experiment or even doing data analysis if something isnt working, you have to come up with a little mini experiment to test all the possible reasons why its not working. I say its an art of problem solving, because you have to come up with the right hypothesis for why things arent working. If the true reason why something isnt working or why its working oddly isnt in your hypothesis, its less likely youre gonna figure it out. You have to have the experience to see what the possibilities are, whats the best way to test those possibilities, and then, of course, you also have to interpret the results correctly.

ambience: lab sounds, conversation

And I claim that its the science of humility because being an apprentice as an experimental physicist, you come up with all these ideas, and then, somebody with more experience says, Yeah. Ive tried that a million times. It doesnt work. Especially those of us that are less experienced, we tend to make screw-ups from time to time. So, yeah, I assert that physics is the art of problem solving and the science of humility.

To check out our latest project, please visit kidsciencechallenge.com. Pulse of the Planets Science Diaries are made possible by the National Science Foundation. Im Jim Metzner.

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Science Diary: Physics - Science of Humility