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Richard Feynman Fire

nebulajr · 757.7K views · 2009-04-15 · 4:43

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Overview

A short clip from a Richard Feynman interview in which he explains fire, describing how burning wood releases sunlight stored by the tree, which built itself mostly from air. It showcases his curiosity and plain-spoken explanations.

On Hacker News

HN repeatedly cites it as an elegant, eye-opening explanation of fire and photosynthesis and as an example of Feynman's infectious love of knowledge.

Recommended by 8 HN people across 8 months · HN mentions 2010–2023

Topics

Everyday physics & science demosScientific method & science communicationChemistry
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richard feynmanfirephotosynthesisscience explanationenergy

What people said

jrscelza · 2020-07 · Strong recommendation

[VIDEO] Feynman explains fire. I’m a big fan and believe his crude straight to the point style, coupled with an incredible ability to storytell is what made him special. I think it’s pure, genuine, curiosity and the intellectual capacity to understand the complexities.

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haxiomic · 2015-08 · Strong recommendation

Checkout this explanation of fire by Richard Feynman - its a really eye opening perspective [VIDEO] He explains the light of a fire is just the light of the Sun, it's just been stored in the wood

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halfnelson · 2012-06 · Strong recommendation

If anyone wants to know the answer to that question, Richard Feynman explains it wonderfully: (He starts talking about trees at 2:00, but his explanation of fire is equally elegant!) [VIDEO] My first instinct was to say that a tree's mass comes from dead stars. Imagining how it got from those stars to the air that eventually becomes the tree would keep you busy for a while :D

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Sources

Video by nebulajr, played through YouTube.

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