REPLY TO ALL (about textbook misconceptions)

[LUDWIK KOWALSKI <KOWALSKIL@alpha.montclair.edu>]

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 20:47:01 -0800
From: Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca>
Subject: Re: A list of textbook misconceptions

> > 5) Gravity in space is zero (or very small, e.g. NASA's 'microgravity')

> Gravity inside an orbiting shuttle is very small compared with gravity
> at the same point at rest with respect to Earth. The misconception is
> that one can ascribe a unique "gravity" to a point in space. The
> gravitational field is relative (just as are the electric and magnetic
> fields). It depends upon the frame of reference of the observer.

> > 13) Laser coherence is caused by atoms' in-phase emission

> Why is this a misconception?

I do not understand the comment next to the item (5). The distance from
the center of Earth to the orbit is nearly the same as to the sea level.
Why are you saying g is very small in comparison with 9.8?
                                                           Ludwik Kowalski