I would be annoyed as well.

[William Gaatjes]

Walter Lewin calls the guy a "schijtzak" (It is a dutch word used to label someone scared in a degrading way).

Walter Lewin explains that when he does the demonstration with the wrecking ball, that he has his back against a wall. He cannot move backwards if the ball would hit him to hard. The ball in his classes had a weight around 30 lbs or 15 kilograms. He explains that on occasion students even pissed in their pants while he was performing this demonstration. Showing his confidence and faith in science he performed the demonstration anyway. Knowing that he could have ended up with a fractured jaw at least if anything goes wrong.
During this tv show, the other guy moved back because he was scared. Walter Lewin seemed to be angry in an genuine way. Mr Lewin confronts the guy that he ruined the demonstration (Conservation of mechanical energy) Mr Lewin has done for so many years.

Literally :

Damn it, You come here to show one of my most famous demonstrations, and what do you do ? On the very last moment ? You move backwards !
You are a "schijtzak" !

After the commentator responded, Mr lewin :

He is a "schijtzak !"
He walked backwards !

After the commentator responded, Mr Lewin :

You did see him walking backwards !
With other words, he does not have any faith in physics !
But i do !

Claiming that the guy has no confidence or faith in science. Which is true while knowing that this guy tries to make physics together with math and science in general understandable for everyone. Still in Dutch but fun to watch. Subtitles are not needed to see the reactions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1ggXtleNDP8#t=489s


This is the actual MIT video course :
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/...echanics-fall-1999/video-lectures/lecture-11/
Start the video and then skip forward to 45 minutes. Or use the link at the index tab of the video.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Walter Lewin understands physics, but he doesn't understand human instinct. Not like that's an original demonstration anyway.

 

[manimal]

think he was calling him a shitsack

honest mistake

 

[Tim]

I'm sorry, but this thread does not deliver.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Walter Lewin explains that when he does the demonstration with the wrecking ball, that he has his back against a wall. He cannot move backwards if the ball would hit him to hard. The ball in his classes had a weight around 30 lbs or 15 kilograms. He explains that on occasion students even pissed in their pants while he was performing this demonstration. Showing his confidence and faith in science he performed the demonstration anyway. Knowing that he could have ended up with a fractured jaw at least if anything goes wrong.
During this tv show, the other guy moved back because he was scared. Walter Lewin seemed to be angry in an genuine way. Mr Lewin confronts the guy that he ruined the demonstration (Conservation of mechanical energy) Mr Lewin has done for so many years.

That's the problem right there. Lewin did it against a wall; he had a frame of reference for where to put his body so he could keep his head in a static position. When the other guy does it he's standing in open space and he very clearly leans his head forward a few inches when he lets the ball go. If he hadn't moved his head back (as he did), he was getting hit in the face with that ball.

 

[William Gaatjes]

Walter Lewin understands physics, but he doesn't understand human instinct. Not like that's an original demonstration anyway.

On the contrary, he does. He even explains that when he performed the demonstration many times, he would close his eyes because he did not wanted to see the wrecking ball coming at him. I think we can assume that he would have moved sideways out of instinct.

By the way, Mr Lewin mentioned that the word was often used 45 years ago in Delft (Netherlands).

 

[William Gaatjes]

That's the problem right there. Lewin did it against a wall; he had a frame of reference for where to put his body so he could keep his head in a static position. When the other guy does it he's standing in open space and he very clearly leans his head forward a few inches when he lets the ball go. If he hadn't moved his head back (as he did), he was getting hit in the face with that ball.

In all honesty, the guy did mention when he let the ball go that he made a mistake during the demonstration. Possibly he could have stepped side ways, capturing the ball and asking for a retry.
In all honesty, i am not sure if they record that show live in that situation.
I have had a job for a while several years ago with a company providing electronic material and services for recording several dutch tv shows meaning me being on the set, even for tv shows from the very same broadcast company : VARA. And i do recall that this show is not a live broadcast. But i could be wrong about this show or this specific episode. What i am trying to say that it is very likely that the demonstration could be performed again and that that recording was used for the final edit ready for tv broadcast.

 

[OutHouse]

god foreign shows are dumb.

 

[busydude]

god foreign shows are dumb.

How many American shows talk about math and physics?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

How many American shows talk about math and physics?

Mythbusters. Bill Nye the Science Guy. A few shows on History Channel. Mr. Wizard. NOVA.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I would be pissed as well.

I don't think he's pissed. Just giving the kid some shit over it.

 

[William Gaatjes]

I don't think he's pissed. Just giving the kid some shit over it.

Now that you mentioned it, and comparing how quickly he cools down. I bet you are right...
But i still agree with his reaction.