Re: Smiley Faces!

[trappe@physics.utexas.edu (Karl Trappe)]

Because we are the queen of the sciences.  I read that in 1960, so it must
still be so. And *we* will lead, so that others *will* have to follow.  No
arrogance here...just comfort in the realization that *we* have everything
*right* and the rest of the world is ignorant and out of step.  It matters
not who first uttered a word. It is our meaning that is correct.  We are
right and all others are wrong.  Face it..."early English" words meant
*nothing* until we came along...

How clever of you to mention "strange" and "field" together.  Are you sure
you meant to say strange field?  Is strangeness a property of fields?

It must be Friday.  We're all full of ourselves...smile, go home, have a
good weekend.  Karl

> Why is this thread called "Smiley Faces"?
>
> Rick's dilema takes me back to a point I have made before to this
> audience. Today's physics is encumbered with too many "early English"
> words that have changed meaning since they were first used, words
> such as "normal" and "moment", and others.
>
> And too many instructors (and authors) don't differentiate
> between words like "rotation" and "revolution", or "constant" and
> "uniform", among others.
>
> And why do we insist on using F for all other forces but f for a
> frictional force? And why do we call the force causing centripetal
> acceleration a Centripetal Force, as if it were in addition to all
> the other forces acting on the moving object? And why do we call
> any object a "body", which makes most students think of a human body?
>
> Ours is indeed a strange field.
>
> Poj

Dr. Karl I. Trappe                              Desk Phone:  (512) 471-4152
Physics Dept, Mail Stop C-1600                  Demo Office: (512) 471-5411
The University of Texas at Austin               Home Phone:  (512) 264-1616
Austin, Texas 78712-1081