The Inspiring and Kind Poetry of Michael Faraday: Scientist Extraordinaire

In this ode to Micheal Faraday, I use original documents and his own words to explain how, without any mathematics, he managed to inspire modern Chemistry, modern Physics and the popular science movement of the 1800s.

"I am no poet..." is from Faraday (1858) Jones The Life and Letters of Faraday (2010) p. 398
"Deep veneration of Mrs. Marcet" is from the same source page 394.

"Faraday's Chemical History of the Candle" is also great:

"Electrodynamic Waves by Sir Lawrence Bragg" is fantastic too:

My video deriving Maxwell's equations (I am very proud of this one):

LINKS for Kathy:

[stevercarter]

Kathy….never stop your journey and teachings.

[TobyOnTube]

hope you are OK Kathy ---- missing your deep and insightful learning videos.

[mrpurplelightsaber]

Kathy we miss you and learning from you!!! Come back soon :)

[stumccabe]

That, starting from nothing and performing only simple experiments, Faraday was able to hypothesise that light was a vibration of electric and magnetic field, I find utterly astonishing. That he was able to do this without using any mathematics makes the achievement even greater. True genius.

[drusillawinters]

I also love physics. I taught a high school course in physics using no math. It was fun to teach and I had students who would never have taken a physics course if it incolved math. One of those students who hated math really impressed me with how well he learned physics.

[ianp]

In 5th grade, my very first book report was on Michael Faraday. It set me on course for loving science, and it's mysteries, to this day and for the rest of my life.

Thanks for all your amazing videos 😊

[Ironman-harmonica]

Kathy, Your passion for teaching is so inspiring. Thank you

[johnward]

Wonderful post about a wonderful man. Thank you. Also you identify one of the most serious problems of our age, resignation from the attempt to think about the natural world because of a lack of mathematics. This has enabled some great scams to be perpetrated on humanity. Likewise, I believe that an over-reliance on maths, coupled with a failure to reduce mathematical arguments to human reason, also lead science astray.
Just one minor quibble, on English education. Yes, there was some dire bad practice, back in the day, but in England it was noted, recorded, discussed, and improved. This is why we have the record that people now can 'tut tut' over. In most other cultures, if they had formal education, its abuses were not noted, recorded, discussed, or improved. Those cultures never changed, never moved forward, but left no record that people today can criticize, so they assume they were all good. They weren't. Many were terrible then and are still terrible now. Dickens was a part of the national process of self criticism that made England a (relatively) humane society. He was listened to, and his message acted upon. Just like with slavery. We are remembered as the slavers, not as the first nation to abolish it.

[alainaaugust]

Can’t help you with spreading on social media as I’m on none. But, thank you, because I love, love, love the brilliant quotes. I’ll watch this video more than once to drink in those timeless quotes.

[TheWorldBelow]

Your style is so captivating.
The pace and clarity of voice is optimal. You are making understanding as helpful as possible. Let those who would come near, receive the Spark of The Eternal, and not be shocked by its potential.

[uncletungsten]

Kathy, you and Faraday make our scientific hearts SING! Keep these coming please. It warms the heart. Thank you. 👌🏻😎

[lancedoyle]

When I am conveying a concept, I try and couch in simple terms and analogies that allow someone to understand at a gut level how something works or why it works that way. The math, etc., can come later and is much easier to understand if you know where you are going. Richard Feynman was asked to teach a subject at CalTech and he said "sure". A week later he came back and said "We don't know enough to teach it". Faraday was one of those who understood the subject intimately.

[guru_stu]

You are an extraordinary person like Faraday. Thanks so much Kathy!

[AudioLemon]

I just think you are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing such a deep passion.

[kilianklaiber]

Wonderful Channel. Thank you very much for your Work.😊

[DancingRain]

I am deeply grateful for your videos. They've been a beacon of light through a very dark time.
Not only have they been illuminating - shining a light on history that was glossed over in my education, but also comforting; your video style is warm, friendly, and inviting.

Keep up the wonderful work you do. :)

[tpreston]

You do Faraday such honor... this is such a unique, unsurprising facet to this gentle good man. Your knowledge and research are so huge Kathy.... thank you, daily!

[taynecooper]

Good on you Cathy, keep up your great work

[jcortese]

I have to say that Faraday's lionization of the woman who thought it worthwhile to put complex ideas into language that a bright layperson could grasp, was incredibly touching. This Mrs. Marcet is worth investigating, as someone who may well be the first true popular science writer of all.

[frebrea]

Are there words to express the gratitud and love we feel when watching your science's videos.