Re: A ball in a dish.

[Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>]

There are many such examples where the literal math implies impossible
angles. Eg.:
The angular half width of the central maximum in the Fraunhofer
diffraction pattern of a single slit is given by  sin(Theta) = lambda / a,
where a is the slit width.  When the real possibility a<lambda is
considered, this math model needs more careful input from the physics.

Moral: Do not rely on the math to do your physics for you; it is a dumb
calculator; you must remain its master!

Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
trebor@velocity.net
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor

"You have reached an imaginary number.  If you require a real number,
please rotate your telephone by 90 degrees, and try again." Anonymous

----- Original Message -----
From: Ludwik Kowalski <KowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: A ball in a dish.
> The smallest possible f is that of a pendulum oscillating
> with very small amplitudes. Why didn't I see it this way?