Are most people too dumb for physics?

Abstract:

In a recent article in The Physics Teacher, Michael Sobel claims (as do many teachers) that physics is in a "special category of hard" and is usually taken only by a "certain sort of very bright student." The appealing, yet suspiciously conceited, notion that physics is only for smart or industrious people is questionable. We offer this response as a means to initiate a dialogue on how we engage with students in our physics courses.