Re: [Phys-L] confusing language, in physics and in general

[Paul Nord <paul.nord@valpo.edu>]

I heard some good debate on the idea of making an "Energy Concepts
Inventory" something like the FCI (Force Concepts Inventory).  The
conclusion seemed to be that the sciences use the term energy in so many
different ways that science needs to sort this out before we can expect
students to clearly articulate these concepts.

Paul

On Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 3:15 PM, John Denker <jsd@av8n.com> wrote:

> Going farther down the same road, I can think of some
> even nastier examples of confusing physics language:
>  -- physics energy versus vernacular energy.
>  -- physics conservation versus vernacular conservation.
>  -- physics acceleration versus vernacular acceleration.
>  -- at least four mutually-incompatible /technical/
>   definitions of "heat" ... not to mention the various
>   vernacular and/or metaphorical usages.
>  -- physics force versus vernacular force (!)
>  -- etc. etc. etc.