Re: [Phys-l] innumeracy

["Quist, Oren" <Oren.Quist@SDSTATE.EDU>]

There is a big difference between a pound of gold and a pound of feathers.
 
         Gold is measured in Troy ounces and pounds
         Feathers are measured in Avoirdupois ounces and pounds. 
 
These units are different!  they will not weigh the same!  This is my introduction to my students why it is important to understand units.
 
Oren Quist

________________________________

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of Eugene Novagratsky
Sent: Fri 3/7/2008 10:00 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] innumeracy



This make little sense to me and I would beg how a pound is defined
here.  For example there
are different interpretations of an 'ounce'.  Also what does it mean to
say ".823 pounds of feathers".
A better question to provoke thought is the three door problem where
the wrong choice gets you
a hideous donkey.  Anyway top of the morning to ya...

g.
On Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 10:09 PM, Bernard Cleyet wrote:

> Let's not be scholastic -  instead ask a physics question, such as,
> Which weighs more  (in this classroom) a ten pound red brick or ten
> pounds of feathers?
>
> bc has a jeweler friend who uses a penny weight balance.
>
> p.s.  my point above suggests the 0.823 is not accurate (correct).
>
>
> On 2008, Mar 06, , at 09:48, Quist, Oren wrote:
>
> > I am getting a little tired of these innumeracy values, but I will
> > throw
> > in one more.
> >
> > I ask my students, "which weighs more, a pound of gold or a pound of
> > feathers?"
> >
> > They laugh and tell me that it is a trick question, and that they
> > weigh
> > the same.
> >
> > And, I explain that yes indeed it is a trick question, and a pound of
> > feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.  (one pound of gold weighs
> > equal to 0.823 pounds of feathers).
> >
> > > From here, we go into the importance of understanding units.
> >
> > Oren Quist, Ph.D., P.E.
> > Professor and Head
> > Department of Physics
> > South Dakota State University
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>
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