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HD Feynman: FUN TO IMAGINE complete (with optional Chinese subtitles)

Christopher Sykes · 712.8K views · 2020-08-24 · 1:06:50

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Overview

A restored HD upload of the 1983 BBC series Fun to Imagine, in which Richard Feynman talks informally about everyday science. Topics include jiggling atoms, fire, rubber bands, magnets, electricity, mirrors, seeing, big numbers and ways of thinking.

On Hacker News

HN commenters point to it as an equation-free, charming way to hear Feynman explain physics to laypeople, including his famous refusal to explain magnetism with simple analogies.

Recommended by 4 HN people across 6 months · HN mentions 2021–2025

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Fundamental physicsScientific method & science communicationTech pioneers & interviews
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What people said

Stratoscope · 2025-02 · Strong recommendation

Somehow this reminds me of my old physics professor, who often had simplistic, almost boring explanations of things, like jiggling atoms making friends with each other, or how a train stays on the track. His name was Richard Feynman. [VIDEO] (Highly recommended video.) I should also note that "teach me something" was intended to give the candidate a chance to be the expert at the beginning the interview. It wasn't something they would be judged on, it was an ice-breaker. And a fun one, based on the feedback I got from candidates.

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morphle · 2022-09 · Strong recommendation

Richard Feynman is the best teacher we know (explaining electricity): [VIDEO] He also explains seeing, heat, electro magnetism, elasticity and mirrors among other things. His academic lectures are just as good but too long and hard for laymen to follow. - Every time I switch on an electrical device I hear Feynman say 'Zzzzinggg' and I see the copper bars jiggling across town. - Every time I see a cup of hot liquid I hear Feynman say "jiggling atoms" - Watch his hands and fingers telling the more accurate science story, simulating the electrons and atoms. - I would say that this the most important video to see for any human being on the planet. De second most important thing would be half of Alan Kay's lectures [LINK] Great video's to watch with your kids! (from 3-4 years and older).

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Stratoscope · 2022-03 · Strong recommendation

If you enjoy Feynman's lectures as much as I do (he taught freshman physics when I went to Caltech!) I highly recommend his armchair series, "Fun to Imagine": [VIDEO] He's sitting at home in Pasadena, talking about stuff that comes to mind. • Jiggling atoms who like to make friends with each other. • Where do trees come from? (It's not the dirt.) • Why don't your arms sink through the armrests of your chair? • How do trains stay on the tracks? It's an hour of fun science, and especially accessible for anyone who is curious about physics but doesn't enjoy all the equations.

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Sources

Video by Christopher Sykes, played through YouTube.

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