AB: Applied Physics

20

Have you ever thrown a ball?  

Have you ever driven a car?

Have you ever seen ice cream melt?

          Have you ever felt the rain fall?

Then you have participated in applied physics.

          Physics was something that, for me, came on the tail of astronomy.  Mostly because of an attempt to figure out why planets have orbits I did a mountain of research that led me to Newton and his colleagues.  

Theoretical physics is fun sure.  Lots of amazing thought puzzles being chewed over by some of the best brains humanity has to offer.   But I am an applied man.  Applied theories and hypotheses are, proven on the daily and are where you find the “laws”.  Not the “what if” game required for the theoreticals.  Ask me what equation to use and I’ll look at you with a blank expression.
Ask me to solve an equation and I’ll ask for a few days.  

Ask me the laws of Thermodynamics and I will tell you that
“Fire is hot.” - “Fire Burns” - “Farts stink”

And that sums up most everything you need to know.  Of course you need to know the why’s of those statements. But that’s where the homework comes in, and I don't make a habit of doing other peoples homework. Help them? Sure. Point them in the right Direction? Definitely.
Read the book for them and tell them what is says? No.
And that's what makes me a Librarian. "But I can't read." "Then here's a movie." "But I can't see." "Here's the audio version." "...but why won't you do my homework for me?"
"Because I won't tell you what to think."
"But I'll listen to what you think and tell you what I think."
"You will.?" "Yeah...but after the work is done."