Re: glass ...

[John Mallinckrodt <ajmallinckro@CSUPomona.Edu>]

On Wed, 28 May 1997, Leigh Palmer wrote:

> ...
>
> Unfortunately I didn't see the simple derivation until after I had
> solved the general scalene triangle case. It is quite tedious, and I
> threw away several sheets of paper with algebraic errors on them.

I first encountered this phenomenon by accident in a sophomore optics lab
as an undergraduate.  I was intrigued by the appearance of the "white"
line and it's apparent coincidence with the spectral components as each
reached minimum deviation.  Working out the reason for this phenomenon
was, in fact, one of my first memorable experiences doing "original
theoretical research."

The other day I too spent an hour and many wasted sheets of paper trying
to rederive the relationship, thinking, at first, that I remembered it
applying to *any* triangular form.  As you suggest, the general case is a
worthy exercise in Euclidean geometry and algebra.

On another topic you wrote:

> I seem to have upset several people with my tirade against apostasy
> regarding the status of entropy. [...] I did not intend my comments to be
> hurtful, and I regret any hurt I may have caused, but I guess my skin
> is thicker than others'.

I'm glad you posted this.  Frankly, I have been distressed by the tone of
this discussion between three phys-l'ers who I respect greatly. 
Nevertheless, it has provoked a lot of thought on my part and I believe
that I've learned a few things from it.  I also think there were a few
straw men set up and knocked down in the course of things and, in the end,
I don't really believe that you, Dan, and David are quite as far apart as
the stridency of some of the posts might suggest.  Your dermal layers
*are* clearly less penetrable than most and I suspect that any long time
phys-l participant recognizes this.

> Therefore I am sentencing myself to a month in the penalty box. This
> will be my last posting to phys-l 'til July. I'm emotionally drained
> by this experience, ...

I know how draining such a sparring match can be; perhaps your skin isn't
quite as thick as you profess.  Anyway, I hope that you won't reject the
opportunity to parole yourself early if the need (or desire)  arises. 

John
-----------------------------------------------------------------
 A. John Mallinckrodt      http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~ajm
 Professor of Physics    mailto:ajmallinckro@csupomona.edu
 Physics Department       voice:909-869-4054
 Cal Poly Pomona            fax:909-869-5090
 Pomona, CA 91768-4031   office:Building 8, Room 223