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Re: understand understanding



For those who believe that mathematics is unnecessary to an
explanation if the explainer really understands a concept I
offer a horrible example. Eugene Hecht is a capable textbook
author. I use his "Optics" by choice when I teach that course.
His noncalculus elementary physics textbook, however, is no
prize. One particularly awful explanation can be found therein,
his discussion of the Maxwellian displacement current. An
explanation of this concept should never be attempted without
mathematics. I challenge anyone to succeed where Hecht has
failed so dramatically. We know from his other work that he is
thoroughly at home with the displacement current concept.

For those who want a great derivation and explanation of the
concept, see Feynman's "Lecures on Physics". I always use this
derivation when I teach E&M.

Leigh