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Re: Mass



Perhaps it is better to define mass as: what a beam balance measures while
at rest in a gravitational field.

Fred Bucheit

~ I think is the antidote to I believe~



From: Brian Whatcott <betwys1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Reply-To: Forum for Physics Educators <PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu>
To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
Subject: Re: Mass
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 19:09:40 -0500

>Brian Whatcott wrote:
>
> > Mass is the name given to the resistance observed when
> > attempting to change the linear speed of some coherent object
> > which is otherwise perfectly free to move.

At 06:45 PM 10/18/2004, Cliff P., you responded:

>What is the name given to the resistance observed when attempting to
change
>the direction of a moving object which is otherwise perfectly free to
move?
>
>When push comes to shove I tell my students that mass like charge is
>something that "stuff" has.
>
>Cliff Parker


I realize it may be difficult to swallow in the physics paradigm, but the
description given above is in fact, adequate.
To change direction is to impart a change of speed in some direction



Brian Whatcott Altus OK Eureka!

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