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Re: speed and velocity



The problem with the "<" and ">" symbols is that they are mis-named. The
names given them are about magnitudes ("less than" and "greater than") but
the actual function they serve is to indicate direction on a number line.
The names we give them are only appropriate when both numbers are on the
positive side of zero. If you look you will notice that the symbols taken
as arrow heads (vector heads) they always point toward the number nearer
negative infinity on the number line. The names (in English anyway) do a
real disservice.

Dewey

(Please note the new exchange "426" in the phone numbers.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr. Phone: (208)426-3105
Professor of Physics Dept: (208)426-3775
Department of Physics/MCF421/418 Fax: (208)426-4330
Boise State University dykstrad@bsumail.idbsu.edu
1910 University Drive Boise Highlanders
Boise, ID 83725-1570 novice piper: GHB, Uilleann

"Physical concepts are the free creations of the human mind and
are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external
world."--A. Einstein in The Evolution of Physics with L. Infeld,
1938.
"Every [person's] world picture is and always remains a construct
of [their] mind and cannot be proved to have any other existence."
--E. Schrodinger in Mind and Matter, 1958.
"Don't mistake your watermelon for the universe." --K. Amdahl in
There Are No Electrons, 1991.
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