Re: [Phys-l] order of topics (was Newton's first law)

["Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@po-box.esu.edu>]

On 11/03/2011 08:56 AM, Bill Nettles wrote:
> If we want to build the idea of masses or charges interacting with 
> gravitational or electrical fields, resulting in forces, shouldn’t we 
> introduce fields first?

When introducing F=mg, is g the gravitational field or is it the local "acceleration of gravity" (acceleration of an object in the local frame when the only force acting is gravity)?  In other words, does mg include the centrifugal force associated with the rotating frame of reference?  Might this impact how you introduce the material?

Robert A. Cohen, Department of Physics, East Stroudsburg University 
570.422.3428   rcohen@esu.edu    http://www.esu.edu/~bbq