🚀 go-pugleaf

> Van,
>
> Perhaps not but incorrect use of terms such as weight and mass make it
> just that much more difficult to overcome misconceptions students bring to
> the classroom.  It is a bit like all of us fighting for the correct use of
> fewer or less - common misuse even to news folks.  I don't like to see
> weight given in kg's.  Or another one, "Save a Watt."  Why not "Save a Joule?"
I see your point.  I, too, want to preserve the language, although less and
 lessindividuals seem to care (just kidding!).  And "Save a Watt?"  You
 misunder-
stand.  That's a slogan coined within the last few days to protect Reagan's
Secretary of the Interior from charges of misconduct!

But all seriousness aside, where do we make a stand and for what reason?
Students also come to class with the idea that mirrors reverse right-to-left;
textbooks even say so.  But I haven't seen a lot of gnashing of teeth over
this.  And it makes it that much more difficult to overcome the
"misconception."  And what about centrifugal for...(Gads, I almost said it!
Sorry!)

Peace.


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