Re: The Good Stuff

[SCIAMANDA@edinboro.edu]

Tim mercifully wrote:

> For those who want a new thread, here are a couple of starting points.
> . . . 
> In fact, you can consider Newton's first two laws as definitions, 
> making the third law the first real physics incountered in general 
> physics, typically 6 weeks into the class. And then it is relegated to 
> second class status, while the students grind through dozens of second 
> law problems. 
> . . .
> Timothy J. Folkerts            email:  tim.folkerts@valpo.edu
> Department of Physics          phone:  219-465-2134
> Valparaiso University
> Valparaiso, IN  46383

Thank you, thank you for steering us back home (I am embarassed at 
my colleagues' behavior).

I agree that Newton's laws (even the third!) can be taken as 
definitions.  But they are falsifiable in the sense that, having defined 
"force" in terms of its kinematical effects, it is an open question 
as to whether the left hand side of F=ma can be filled in with 
empirically verifiable force laws that apply to the real world. 
ie., Newton is proposing a potentially useful definition;  its 
usefullness is to be verified. 

Pllleeeease, folks, cut the crap!

Bob Sciamanda           sciamanda@edinboro.edu
Dept of Physics         sciamanda@worldnet.att.net
Edinboro Univ of PA     http://www.edinboro.edu/~sciamanda/home.html