John Denker says that the unit of force is not the same thing as the concept
of force. I suppose that is true. But it is interesting that John would
use these words to distinguish that F=ma cannot be used to define the
"concept of force" because that is exactly what is done at the Swedish
National Testing and Research Institute which I referenced in my previous
post. They actually have a web page titled "The concept of force" and they
use F=ma to define/describe the concept of force... using those words. The
URL is:
I suppose just because they say so doesn't make it so, but institutes like
this are more of an authority than any one of us in this discussion.
Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D. Phone/voice-mail: 419-358-3270
Professor of Chemistry & Physics FAX: 419-358-3323
Chairman, Science Department E-Mail edmiston@bluffton.edu
Bluffton College
280 West College Avenue
Bluffton, OH 45817