Re: [Phys-l] base knowledge erosion

[Martha Takats <mtakats@ursinus.edu>]

Yes, it really is that bad!
A few years ago I collected the following from the first problem set 
assigned in a (college) general physics course:
3^2 = 6
1 century = 99 years
1 yard = 36.03 inches
1 yard = 33 inches
1 yard = 6 ft
1 hour = 24 minutes

Martha Takats


On Feb 27, 2006, at 11:16 AM, Monce, Michael N. wrote:

>   A bit of a vent:   I'm teaching astronomy for the first time in 
> about 15 years ans suddenly have become aware of a serious depletion 
> of general knowledge that certainly wasn't there when I last taught 
> the course.
>
>   I recently gave an exam that had a problem on geosynchronous 
> satellite.  To solve the problem the student should obviously know the 
> rotation rate of the earth.  Well, I now know that 5 students out of a 
> class of 24 had no idea that 1) the earth rotates, and 2) that the 
> rotation rate is 24 hours. i.e. they had no idea what causes day and 
> night.   Is it really that bad out there???
>
>
>                     Mike Monce
>                     Connecticut College
>
>
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