Re: Snake Oil

["Robert W. Harris" <rwharris@CATH-MEM.ORG>]

<snip>
> I think this is an area that has a lot of junk, but it could be
> science if the marketing hype could be stripped away. Magnets either
> do or do not help pain, a question that can be decided by sufficiently
> clever experiments. If there is an effect, one could pursue a
> mechanism. It might, therefore, be a very good area for us to deal
> with in a classroom.
>
> Stan


A great idea.  A great way to deal with the 'scientific method' not just
talking about controls, variables, and so on, but actually trying to decide
on what they should be for this case.  It is so complex that it might
generate very spirited discussion.  One group could design an experiment,
another group could try to repeat it (perhaps from the written report).
Sounds exciting ... and very open ended.

Br. Robert W. Harris
Catholic Memorial High School
rwharris@cath-mem.org
http://www.cath-mem.org/physics/contents.htm