Episode 1: Introduction - The Mechanical Universe
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN rates the series as one of the best physics lecture courses on YouTube, with an engaging format and historical context.
What it is
The first episode of Caltech's The Mechanical Universe, a 52-part introductory university physics series. David Goodstein introduces ideas from Copernicus to Newton, linking the physics of the heavens and the earth with computer animation.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2018 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec musewing · 2018-09 · on “Ask HN: Favorite teachers on YouTube?”
Hands down best: David Goodstein, CalTech, the 'Mechanical Universe" physics series on YouTube. [this video]
Strong rec musewing · 2018-09 · on “Ask HN: Favorite teachers on YouTube?”
Hands down best: David Goodstein, CalTech, "The Mechanical Universe" physics series on YouTube. [this video]
Recommends meltyness · 2023-01 · on “Ask HN: Best Layman's Book on Electricity”
Reading sucks; check out "The Mechanical Universe" [this video] Basics of electricity start here: [LINK] It glosses briefly over the mathematical parts with advanced-for-the-time animations that may or may not be instructive.
Cites WalterBright · 2024-05 · on “Harvard applications drop 5% after year of turmoil on the Ivy League campus”
When I attended Caltech in the 70s, I asked about riots and demonstrations on campus during the Vietnam war era. They said that outside agitators had come on campus, and attempted to recruit students to form a protest. The usual response was: "I can't join a protest, because I'd miss Physics class!" and the organizers failed. It made perfect sense to me, because missing even a single physics lecture was a very, very bad idea. I was hanging on by my fingernails. RIP Prof Goodstein, my physics prof, who recently passed away. You were an awesome professor. He was also the prime mover behind "The Mechanical Universe" [this video]