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F = ma
Is this an equation of Formula?
I get the most interesting discussions in class.
It probably doesn't matter, but is there a difference?
Based on the definitions in Tim's message, it appears that F=ma is both an
equation and a formula.
I always tell my students that formula is someting
they stopped using many years ago.
I want them to think
about mathematical relationships between variables
that are expressed in equation form.
How about, it is neither, since we really don't know what a force is,
and don't independently know what mass is, the best we can do is say
that it is an organizing principle for seeing the relation among these
interdependent quantities.
I believe it depends on who you ask.
In my experience, most physicists
and physics teachers don't bother with the distinction.
Chemists and
mathematicians are more like to make the following distinction:
If it is a complete statement with the verb "=" (or in chemistry, the
"arrow" symbol), then it is an equation. If it is an incomplete
expression with no verb, then it is a formula.