Particle Physics Seminar: Guesstimation: Solving the World’s Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin

Abstract:

Why don't we all drive electric cars?  Does it really matter if you don't recycle that plastic water bottle?  If the Sun were made of gerbils, would the Earth be incinerated?  How can we answer these questions without relying on experts?  This talk will cover the principles of estimating, introduce the "Goldilocks" categories of answers, and then look at some of the big (and small) questions of our time, including: Should we ban plastic straws? How fast would we need to flap our arms to fly? Should we pee before flying?  
 

Seminar Organizer: Dr. Adi Ashkanzi