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The Physics of a Light Bulb

38 points by antimora 11y ago

jrapdx3 11y ago
The article takes on an interesting subject, and starts off informatively, holding my interest. Unfortunately, hit a glitch navigating from page 2 to 3. The article's text is missing on page 3, saying only "undefined". Pretty sure that's a javascript error. Disappointing, always thought of "Forbes" as a major content producer who could handle it. Maybe it goes to show that putting up "fancy" effects isn't really worth the trouble. I'd much rather just be able to read the article and can easily do without the "slick" section transitions. I did like the illustrations/images, they're definitely worth keeping.
- jacquesm 11y ago
  It's only two pages, the last bit should read 'So much for the idea that learning physics takes away from a sense of wonder at the world…'. The 'print' version is all on one page.
  - Nadya 11y ago
    >The 'print' version is all on one page. I'll be using this trick more often. Thank you.
- Shivetya 11y ago
  It did take a subject I have never really put thought behind and show that the science behind the ordinary light bulb is interesting and complex enough that it lends wonder to the people who worked it out. Its not rocket science, its light bulb science, both are simple comments about extraordinary science brought to a level we can see.
vixen99 11y ago
The author writes that "You can see this worked out with a whole bunch of math, ... this 2005 paper from the American Journal of Physics is very nice'. A pricey read though at $30 to buy or $4 to rent the article. Never mind, the seven line abstract is absolutely free.
- semi-extrinsic 11y ago
  Adding insult to injury, that paper isn't even 100% correct, there is a subsequent comment paper pointing out the errors. Here [1] is a full-text link to a better paper explaining blackbody radiation properly. [1] http://arxiv.org/abs/1010.5696 http://arxiv.org/abs/1010.5696
  - kwhitefoot 11y ago
    Nice paper, written in a very readable style. Thanks, one of the best links I have ever seen on HN.
simonh 11y ago
For me on an iPhone 6+ the page continuously reloads due to an error, I can read about a paragraph between reloads but then have to scroll down again from the top. I gave up after 4 paragraphs.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]

38 points by antimora 11y ago

The article takes on an interesting subject, and starts off informatively, holding my interest. Unfortunately, hit a glitch navigating from page 2 to 3. The article's text is missing on page 3, saying only "undefined". Pretty sure that's a javascript error. Disappointing, always thought of "Forbes" as a major content producer who could handle it. Maybe it goes to show that putting up "fancy" effects isn't really worth the trouble. I'd much rather just be able to read the article and can easily do without the "slick" section transitions. I did like the illustrations/images, they're definitely worth keeping.

jacquesm 11y ago
It's only two pages, the last bit should read 'So much for the idea that learning physics takes away from a sense of wonder at the world…'. The 'print' version is all on one page.
- Nadya 11y ago
  >The 'print' version is all on one page. I'll be using this trick more often. Thank you.
Shivetya 11y ago
It did take a subject I have never really put thought behind and show that the science behind the ordinary light bulb is interesting and complex enough that it lends wonder to the people who worked it out. Its not rocket science, its light bulb science, both are simple comments about extraordinary science brought to a level we can see.

vixen99 11y ago

The author writes that "You can see this worked out with a whole bunch of math, ... this 2005 paper from the American Journal of Physics is very nice'. A pricey read though at $30 to buy or $4 to rent the article. Never mind, the seven line abstract is absolutely free.

semi-extrinsic 11y ago
Adding insult to injury, that paper isn't even 100% correct, there is a subsequent comment paper pointing out the errors. Here [1] is a full-text link to a better paper explaining blackbody radiation properly. [1] http://arxiv.org/abs/1010.5696 http://arxiv.org/abs/1010.5696
- kwhitefoot 11y ago
  Nice paper, written in a very readable style. Thanks, one of the best links I have ever seen on HN.

simonh 11y ago

For me on an iPhone 6+ the page continuously reloads due to an error, I can read about a paragraph between reloads but then have to scroll down again from the top. I gave up after 4 paragraphs.

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]