Mistakes in Physics

Physics can give an inquisitive mind plenty of food for thought, and under the right conditions, it can help develop critical thinking. But there’s a paradox: high school physics has very little to do with the way physics as a science is practiced today. The vast majority of concepts and phenomena studied by millions of high school students around the world are from the 17th–19th centuries! So, why do we continue to approach the study of physics in this way?

Generally, everything is explained at a beginner’s level in school physics, without any complicated mathematical formulas. At the end of their studies, most high school graduates view physics as a complete whole, made up of structures consisting of mismatched blocks: a dozen formulas, scraps of information from different topics, and the firm belief that all the secrets of the universe have been discovered — that’s all there is to it. No need to revisit physics ever again.

That’s not even half the problem! Much worse is the fact that the process of learning itself is much like a leisurely walk along the sidewalk, from one topic to the next. In such an “airtight” education system, the idea that certain views or theories may be erroneous may seem silly!

In this model, the central point in the universe is assigned to planet Earth; all other planets, stars, and the Sun revolve around it. This model does not explain why the planets sometimes move from east to west, that is, in the direction opposite to the movement of the Sun. Moreover, it baffled the ancient astronomers, who regarded the planets as deities that should move only uniformly.

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An astronaut floating in space above the earth, surrounded by particles and positrons.

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