[Phys-L] Re: Attacks on Education - Shakespeare and Thermodynamics

[Joseph Bellina <jbellina@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

I don't think we have to get as techy as entropy to see that the average
person does not know or understand the significance of the third law.
 Just try talking about temperature limited efficiencies with regard to
energy production.

cheers,

joe

Chuck Britton wrote:

> I would hope that the 'masses' could have an appreciation of the
> Second Law even though they are not mathematically sophisticated.
>
> But I realize that there are those among us who would outlaw the use
> of the word 'entropy' unless it is accompanied by an appropriate
> enumeration of states.
>
>
>
> At 11:12 AM -0500 2/22/05, Carl Mungan wrote:
>
> >  wishes he had instead chosen an example from
> > "molecular biology" (eg. the structure of DNA) and goes on to say,
> > "Unlike thermodynamics, the subject does not involve serious
> > conceptual difficulties" and, "It needs very little mathematics to
> > understand."
> >
> > Should Snow have made this apology? What do folks think? Carl
> > --

--
Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
574-284-4662, 4968
Saint Mary's College
Dept. of Chemistry and Physics
Notre Dame, IN, 46556