PHYSICS FOR THE LAY STUDENT

Public understanding of physics and physical principles in the United States is at a low point. The term “physics” appears to be frightening and intimidating to average individuals, perhaps because of its mathematical connotations or because of an aura of mystery about how the world works. Many individuals turn to occult, paranormal and metaphysical beliefs about phenomena encountered in their daily lives. The rational ideas of science appear to be less attractive to the minds of many than the superstitious or non-rational explanations promoted by many groups in the United States. Professional scientists, including physicists, have not succeeded in communicating effectively their task of explicating the workings of the universe to the average public. As a result, these scientists are frequently viewed as “gurus” or “priests” of the unknown, dealing in ideas far removed from the daily lives of average persons. Teachers of physical sciences in the elementary school in the U. S. are generally poorly trained in understanding science. Consequently, they avoid or poorly present information about science to their charges. Children thus develop a negative look about science that carried into adult life. Certain programs have been developed in the past decades to overcome the problems cited above. Usually, these are rather formal modes of presentation to children in the schools. In some cases, they are successful but to this point have not had widespread effect on solving the problem of poor understanding of physics by the public. Many problems still persist in developing scientific literacy among the general American public. With increasing awareness, the proliferation of technological devices in most American homes, and attention to early education in sciences, there is hope that these may become a medium for raising the literacy level in the sciences for average persons.