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Re: EMF

I think you should stick with "electromotive force" yet explain the
appropriate concept to your students. The reason I say this is simply that
after your students leave your classroom, the rest of the world (barring a
few on this Phys-L list) will refer to EMF as "electromotive force."


----- Original Message -----
From: Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 4:43 AM
Subject: EMF


Referring to the EMF my textbook states that the use of the
term electromotive force "is discouraged." We know why.
So what is the alternative? I am hesitating between "frog"
(or frogging) and "food". The first has to do with the old
Galvani-Volta controversy, the second with energy. A
battery of 12 volts, for example, feeds (another f-word?)
each coulomb with 12 joules of energy, at it passes through
it. I think food is more appropriate. Any better alternative?
Ludwik Kowalski