Certainly not everyone needs to know all of physics. However, it would sure
be nice if more people understood some of the basic laws.
There are definite limits to what we can and cannot do.
It would also be nice if certain logic principles could be applied and
understood.
For example, what would it mean to have an EPA "action level" for
magnetic fields of 30 milligauss? This gets people excited about
electrical appliances without them realizing that they live in a
background magnetic field approximately twenty times larger.
Or, the need to change the name of NMR to MRI so that people will
not fear it.
The same could be said about nuclear radiation levels, or EPA action
levels for radon. Or, probably also for EPA action levels for asbestos.
etc. etc.
Especially sad is the understanding level of those in postions of power.
It would seem that most of our (the) legislators don't have a clue when
scientific principles apply.
But, I don't want to get too . . . ooo cynical.
It is my personal belief that we MUST TRY to do a better job with the
90% of non-physics majors.