🚀 go-pugleaf

> Van,
> What planet are you living on?  Since when do physicists avoid double
> meanings for things?  How about "m?"  meter or mass?  How about"s^-1?"
> radian/s or rev/s?  And don't forget Newton-meter -- unit of work or
> unit of torque?  (okay -- I know -- Joule takes care of that)  My
> favorite example -- "V?"  Could this be the symbol for potential?
> Or is it potential diference?  Or is it the abbreviation for volt?
> In these situations,as in the mass - mass case, we derive the meaning
> from context.
>
Sorry, but "m" doesn't have a double meaning here.  The use of the letter
m for mass is only when it appears in an equation, or in some other represen-
tation for mass.  It's use for meter appears only APPENDED to a number.  In
these cases the distinction is clear.  A joule is a newton-meter, but torque
is really a meter-newton (as in F dot s vs r cross F).

But I realize that physics isn't totally devoid of double meanings.  Let's
not introduce any more than we have to.

I wish I hadn't lost my Latin dictionary!  I don't know whether to say
Thank you or Same to you!

As for the smiley face with the sunglasses--dream on!  We live in Indiana.
Long time 'til warm sunny weather.

Be cool.

Van


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Van E. Neie                                      ven@physics.purdue.edu
Purdue University
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