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Re: [Phys-l] Equations



It seems that this is reopening the old debate.

Now if you are talking pedagogically, the cause is F and the result is a.
So to teach students a better formulation is a = F/m. Whether of not this
relates to any scientific definition of cause and effect is irrelevant at
this point. The scientific definition of cause and effect is hopelessly
abstract for beginning students. Once they have achieved formal operational
reasoning and have gained full understanding of variables, then perhaps it
could be introduced.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX


In the context of F=ma, jbellina wrote:
Of the top of my head, F is a cause, W is a descriptor.

1) Saying that F is a cause seems to imply that ma is the
corresponding effect ... right?

2) Is that always true? Do you know of any exceptions?

3) Suppose that in a certain situation, the students believed that
ma should be considered the cause and F considered the effect.
How would you persuade them to change their minds? Is there any
actual evidence that in general, F is the cause and ma is not?

4) Can you give a scientific definition of "cause" and "effect"?