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How to Teach Physics to Your Dog Hardcover – December 22, 2009

by Chad Orzel (Author)

95 customer reviews

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What do dog treats and chasing squirrels have to do with quantum mechanics? Much more than you might imagine, as Orzel explains in this fun introduction to modern physics based on a series of conversations with his dog Emmy. Dogs make the perfect sounding board for physics talk, because they approach the world with fewer preconceptions than humans, and always expect the unexpected. Physicist Orzel begins with the basics, explaining how light can be both particle and wave simultaneously—a bit like a dog that can split itself into two to chase a rabbit no matter which direction it runs. A look at Heisenberg's uncertainty principle begins with a hunt for a hypothetical bone. Schrödinger's cat becomes, of course, Schrödinger's dog. Quantum entanglement, quantum teleportation and virtual particles (composed, for example, of bunny-antibunny pairs) are all explained with the author's characteristic lighthearted touch. While Orzel's presentation may be a bit too precious for some, readers who've shied away from popular treatments of physics in the past may find his cheerful discussion a real treat. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Particle physicist Orzel has a smart and energetic German shepherd-mix, Emmy, who’s interested in what he does for a living that keeps her in treats and kibble. So she asks him about it, and he tells her, with plenty of chaseable bunnies and squirrels illustratively standing-in for photons, electrons, and other particles. He cheerfully and uncommonly clearly explains particle-wave duality; Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle (and the popular-media misuse of it); photon superposition and polarization; wave-function collapse and Bohr’s strict discrimination between quantum and classical physics; the many-worlds view of quantum mechanics that defies wave-function collapse; the quantum Zeno effect; quantum tunneling (right through “solid” barriers); entanglement and how it enables teleportation (at the quantum scale, that is); virtual particles and quantum electrodynamics; and the fraudulence of quantum-mechanics-exploiting “free energy” and healing schemes. Emmy’s attempts to apply her new knowledge practically (to catch squirrels and bunnies) keeps the conversation moving. It’s hard to imagine a better way for the mathematically and scientifically challenged, in particular, to grasp basic quantum physics. --Ray Olson

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Product details

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (December 22, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781416572282
ISBN-13: 978-1416572282
ASIN: 1416572287
Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
Average Customer Review: 95 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #49 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Science & Scientists
- #64 in Books > Science & Math > Physics > Molecular Physics
- #310 in Books > Science & Math > Physics > Quantum Theory

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Physics as Taught to a Dog

February 24, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Physicist Chad Orzel talks to his dog. This is not all that unusual. Many pet owners talk to their pets and dogs make particularly good listeners. What might be a little strange is that Professor Orzel talks to his German Sheppard mix Emma about quantum physics. It turns out that dogs have a good intuitive grasp of quantum physics so they are able to have long conversations on quantum physics. In How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, Chad Orzel relates these conversations in which he explains to an eager Emma the basics of quantum physics. Emma interrupts his explanations with just the sort of questions the reader might happen to have. The dog and physicist talk about such topics as the uncertainty principle, virtual particles, quantum tunneling and entanglement.
It's a fun idea and Chad Orzel does a terrific job explaining physics to the lay reader in the guise of talking to his dog. He seems to have a good feel for how a dog acts and thinks, and I have no trouble imagining that if a dog could talk about physics she would be just as excitable, and as easily distracted by squirrels, bunnies, and treats.
The most important chapter in this book must be the last one, Beware of Evil Squirrels. Here Professor Orzel warns the read of the misuses and outright scams involving quantum physics. There are any number of con artists and New Age frauds who make use of scientific sounding terminology to mislead their victims into believing that one can get free energy from "vacuum energy" or heal oneself of all diseases by imagining oneself to be perfectly healthy. As Orel explains, despite the many weird and wonderful manifestations of quantum physics, it is not magic, and follows the same sort of rules as anything else in the universe, including the common sense rule that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
I found How to Teach Physics to Your Dog to be appealing and informative. I think that some of the explanations were a bit hard to follow but that is perhaps more my fault than the writer's.

5 people found this helpful

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No bunnies here

April 8, 2010

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Understanding quantum physics is a challenge, even for the keener students. But it's worth it, offering scientific, even philosophical, perspectives in new and diverse fields. Chad touches on these but is alert to snake oil salesmen. This book tells it straight and does not indulge turkeys (or evil squirrels). The explanation through discourse is a tried and true method, pioneered in the case of Galileo with fellow humans. Emmy's canine musings provide Chad with a wealth of useful examples to clarify theories.

Many authors tackle quantum physics at an introductory level and attempt the difficult task of explaining a mathematical subject without maths. A strength of this shorter book is the option to easily reread a point that did not sink in. There can be no pretence that quantum physics is any other than a mathematical world that can defy comprehension. Accessible books like this one are the rabbit that will entice future physicists into that field. Views on quantum theory vary as do teaching methods, so readers can improve their grasp by reading similar introductory books. A sometimes different treatment of many of the same topics, with a focus on glossy artwork rather than canine prerogative, is Jim Al-Khalili's Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed.

5 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Best simple explanation, ...

September 12, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

... so far. I could never grasp Bell's non-locality before, .. hmm. . still can't, but I'm getting close, REALLY close. I have to read this again.
Dam, (n), smart dog. I envy her. She deserves a steak (s).

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How to Teach Your Dog Physics is an Excellent Read!

November 13, 2010

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

"he called it spukhafte Fernwirkung
"Spooky action at a distance?" she translates
"Since when do you know German?"
"Dude, look at me" she turns sideways for a second, showing off her black and tan coloring and pointed nose. "German shepherd, remember?"

So goes the banter between a dog and his owner as they discuss the strange world of quantum physics. This highly readable book will take you into the realms of quantum tunneling, Schrodinger's Wave equations, the quantum zeno effect and other topics of this strange world of the very small.
Chad Orzel writes a very clear, readable book using his dog Emmy to explain the physics of quantum mechanics. The style which he uses his conversations with his dog to set up the explanations is an ingenious method and for those who are not familiar with the subject provides a short glossary; for those who want to read more suggested readings are also given.
What I liked about this book is how Mr. Orzel takes on the tasks of dispelling certain myths about quantum physics in a very nonthreatening manner. Usually it is his dog who has the incorrect interpretation of the concept and upon examples and strong analogies, the concept is explained and by the end of the chapter Emmy understands.
For example, Emmy begins chapter 2 with a lost bone and failure to understand Chad's joke about the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. After Emmy finds her bone (under the TV) Chad begins to explain the principle and at the end of the chapter Emmy comes back to help us summarize what we learned.
The use of Emmy is a clever way to introduce the "What does that mean?" into a book that could be a dry and dusty tome about a subject that many would probably never read about. The use of Emmy is not over done nor is it condescending towards the reader. You are taken along with Emmy into Orzel's explanations with no abrupt jumps in transition.
Overall the book is a joy to read, but unfortunately there are parts where you may have to just back up and read again. Quantum physics is a hard topic to explain to those who are not familiar with the topic and while Orzel does a very good job at explanations, sometimes the reader will have to re-read a passage to grasp what he is saying. This is not the fault of the author, it is the fault of the subject. The world of these tiny objects is quite beyond what we can perceive so we have to be very imaginative to explore this world. Because of this, written explanations can get wordy or burdensome trying to illustrate these difficult concepts. Orzel does a good job of clearing the air and helping the reader understand.
As a teacher of high school physics, I have read many books on quantum physics and this one, I must say, tops the list in readability, interest and clarity. I even would venture to use it as a text in a high school class to introduce the topic of quantum physics.
While it helps to have a background knowledge of physics when reading this book, any one can learn from this book and enjoy it. As the college syllabus reads "Prerequisites-none".

6 people found this helpful

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My dog isn't smarter, but I'm getting there

October 20, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I pick this book up and dip into it every once in a while. My dogs don't find it particularly interesting, though I do. As a person with no scientific training other than general reading over the years, I like the way the book is grounded in a dog's reality to teach some counter-reality concepts.

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