Background The Feynman Lectures on Physics

feynman “great explainer”: feynman lectures on physics found appreciative audience beyond undergraduate community.

by 1960, richard feynman’s research , discoveries in physics had resolved number of troubling inconsistencies in several fundamental theories. in particular, work in quantum electrodynamics awarded 1965 nobel prize in physics. @ same time feynman @ pinnacle of fame, faculty of california institute of technology concerned quality of introductory courses undergraduate students. thought courses burdened old-fashioned syllabus , exciting discoveries of recent years, many of had occurred @ caltech, not being taught students.

thus, decided reconfigure first physics course offered students @ caltech, goal being generate more excitement in students. feynman readily agreed give course, though once. aware of fact historic event, caltech recorded each lecture , took photographs of each drawing made on blackboard feynman.

based on lectures , tape recordings, team of physicists , graduate students put manuscript become feynman lectures on physics. although feynman s valuable technical contribution field of physics may have been in field of quantum electrodynamics, feynman lectures destined become widely-read work.

the feynman lectures considered 1 of sophisticated , comprehensive college-level introductions physics. feynman himself stated in original preface “pessimistic” regard success in reaching of students. feynman lectures written “to maintain interest of enthusiastic , rather smart students coming out of high schools , caltech”. feynman targeting lectures students who, “at end of 2 years of our previous course, [were] discouraged because there few grand, new, modern ideas presented them”. result, physics students find lectures more valuable after have obtained grasp of physics studying more-traditional texts, , books seen more helpful teachers students.

while two-year course (1961–1963) still underway, rumors of spread throughout physics research , teaching community. in special preface 1989 edition, david goodstein , gerry neugebauer claimed time went on, attendance of registered undergraduate students dropped sharply matched compensating increase in number of faculty , graduate students. co-author matthew sands, in memoir accompanying 2005 edition, contested claim. goodstein , neugebauer stated that, “it [feynman’s] peers — scientists, physicists, , professors — main beneficiaries of magnificent achievement, nothing less see physics through fresh , dynamic perspective of richard feynman”, , gift was extraordinary teacher of teachers .

addison-wesley published collection of exercises , problems accompany feynman lectures on physics. problem sets first used in 1962-1963 academic year, , organized robert b. leighton. of problems sophisticated , difficult enough require understanding of advanced topics, such kolmogorov s zero–one law. original set of books , supplements contained number of errors, of rendered problems insoluble. various errata issued, available online.

addison–wesley released in cd format audio tapes of lectures, on 103 hours richard feynman, after remastering sound , clearing recordings. cd release, order of lectures rearranged of original texts. publisher has released table showing correspondence between books , cds.

in march 1964, feynman appeared once again before freshman physics class lecturer, notes particular guest lecture lost number of years. located, restored, , made available feynman s lost lecture: motion of planets around sun.

in 2005, michael a. gottlieb , ralph leighton co-authored feynman s tips on physics, includes 4 of feynman s freshman lectures had not been included in main text (three on problem solving, 1 on inertial guidance), memoir matthew sands origins of feynman lectures on physics, , exercises (with answers) assigned students robert b. leighton , rochus vogt in recitation sections of feynman lectures course @ caltech. released in 2005, definitive edition of lectures included corrections original text.

an account of history of these famous volumes given sands in memoir article “capturing wisdom of feynman , , article memories of feynman physicist t. a. welton.

in september 13, 2013 email members of feynman lectures online forum, gottlieb announced launch of new website caltech , feynman lectures website offers [a] free high-quality online edition of lecture text. provide device-independent reading experience, website takes advantage of modern web technologies html5, svg, , mathjax present text, figures, , equations in sizes while maintaining display quality.