Re: momentum

[paul o johnson <pojhome@FLASH.NET>]

Leigh

Whoa! Did you really mean to say that the energy in Herb's example is
NOT conserved? The system's kinetic energy is obviously not conserved,
but I sure hope its energy  is. Can we not agree that the word "energy"
without modifying adjective refers to total system energy?

poj
Collin County College

Leigh Palmer wrote:

> The nearest equivalence I can think of is a head on collision
> between two cars moving at 35 and a head on collision between
> two cars, one of which is moving at 70 and the other at rest
> *with brakes off*. You may supply whatever velocity units you
> like above.
>
> Herb's comment that energy is conserved is either trivial and
> potentially confusing, or else it is wrong. Such statements
> can only distract students from a correct line of reasoning,
> and they already have enough distractions from their raging
> hormones so that we need not provide gratuitous distractions.
>
> Leigh