Re: [Phys-l] g...

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu>]

On Nov 20, 2006, at 5:54 PM, Jack Uretsky wrote:

> But there is no "k" needed.  In what my 1940 text calls the static 
> systim,
> 1 pound of force measure the deflection of a standard spring.  1 lb
> accelerates a certain mass with an acceleration of 1 ft/s^2;  we call 
> that
> amount of mass 1 slug.  1 slug has a weight of ~32 ft/s^2.  G has a 
> value
> of about3.5x10^{-8}#(ft/slug)^2.  F=ma in ordinary English units, no 
> "k"
> needed.

This defines 1 lb in terms of acceleration in free fall. The situation 
would be very different if the standard spring, and the defining 
deflection, were specified instead of 32 ft/s^2.

Ludwik Kowalski
Let the perfect not be the enemy of the good.