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Re: [Phys-l] Deltas in equations

From: Carl Mungan <mungan@usna.edu>
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:03:44 -0400

The second problem, which is more insidious, is that students are not used to the fact that (delta-something)^2 is not the same thing as delta-(something^2).

The other day when I did a Snell's law example of light traveling from glass into air, I asked how many students think that

arcsin(sin(theta)/n) = theta/n?

Lots of hands shot up. -Carl

nitpickers' postscript: The angle theta was not small in the particular example of interest.
--
Carl E. Mungan, Asst Prof of Physics 410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
Naval Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-5002
mailto:mungan@usna.edu http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/

References:
- Re: [Phys-l] Equations
  - From: "Edmiston, Mike" <edmiston@bluffton.edu>
- Re: [Phys-l] Deltas in equations
  - From: Herbert Schulz <herbs@wideopenwest.com>
- Re: [Phys-l] Deltas in equations
  - From: "Michael Edmiston" <edmiston@bluffton.edu>

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