¿ por qué es importante la física ?

Summary

Professor Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, highlights the pivotal role of physics in shaping modern civilization. He traces technological advancements from the laser to the internet back to physics, emphasizing how future physics could make today's science fiction realities. Kaku also discusses the evolution of understanding from superstition to scientific explanation, using the example of comets to illustrate the transition from mystery to comprehension through Newton's laws of gravitation.

Takeaways

• 👨‍🏫 Professor Michio Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York.
• 🧬 Physics is foundational to understanding matter and energy.
• 🔬 Physicists have contributed to the invention of many technologies such as lasers, transistors, and the internet.
• 🚀 Most science fiction concepts are within the realm of physical possibility within a century.
• 🕰 Concepts like time travel and higher dimensions may take a millennium to achieve.
• 📱 Modern technology would make us appear as wizards to our ancestors.
• 👶 Our descendants in 2100 might be seen as gods due to advanced technology.
• 📚 The history of physics is intertwined with the progress of modern civilization.
• 🌌 Before Newton and Galileo, the world was shrouded in superstition and mystery.
• 🌠 The same comet that appeared in 1066 reappeared in 1682, prompting Newton to explain comets' origins.
• 🍎 Isaac Newton's discovery of universal gravitation at age 23 helped demystify the motion of celestial bodies.

Q & A

Who is Professor Michio Kaku?

Professor Michio Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York who specializes in string theory.

What is string theory?

String theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings.

What significant contributions have physicists made to modern technology?

Physicists have contributed to the invention of the laser beam, the transistor, the first computer, the construction of the Internet, and the World Wide Web, among other technological advancements.

How does Professor Kaku describe the role of physics in science fiction?

Professor Kaku suggests that most science fiction is well within the laws of physics and possible within a hundred years, while impossibilities like time travel might take a thousand years or more.

What does Professor Kaku believe about the perception of technology by our ancestors?

Professor Kaku believes that if our great-grandparents from the year 1900 were to see our modern technology, they would view us as wizards or sorcerers.

How does Professor Kaku view the future of technology in relation to our descendants?

Professor Kaku suggests that if we were to meet our grandchildren from the year 2100, we would view them as gods, due to the advanced technology they would possess.

What is the significance of physics in the history of modern civilization according to Professor Kaku?

Physics is at the foundation of all the gadgetry and marvels of the technological age, and the history of physics is the history of modern civilization.

How did the understanding of physics change during the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, people believed in superstitions and spirits to explain natural phenomena. It was not until the beginning of modern physics with Galileo and Isaac Newton that these mysteries began to be understood.

What was the significance of the comet that appeared in 1066?

The comet that appeared in 1066 was significant because it was believed to have paved the way for the coming of the British monarchy when a young man from Normandy defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

What did Isaac Newton discover about comets?

Isaac Newton dared to penetrate the secrets of comets and discovered the universal force of gravitation, which explained the motion of celestial bodies, including comets.

What was the impact of Newton's discovery on the understanding of the universe?

Newton's discovery of the universal force of gravitation had a profound impact on the understanding of the universe, providing a scientific explanation for the motion of celestial bodies and the laws of motion on Earth.