Re: [Phys-l] Equations (causal relationship)

[John Mallinckrodt <ajm@csupomona.edu>]

In response to

> > When the light turns green, I press on the accelerator (and the
> > brake) in order to produce a certain desired acceleration. ...

Josh Gates wrote:

> I hope that you mean the gas and the clutch - as this is a really  
> good way
> to waste brake pads and gas (two things that we could use more of).

Ah!  That explains a lot now, doesn't it?  When I traded in my Miata  
for my Prius, I just kept pressing on that leftmost pedal.  Been  
wondering why the ride was so rough and the EPA estimates so far off.

Seriously, though.  the "brakes" bit was a proofreading error left  
over from a time when "when the light turns green" read "when I drive  
a car."

John "Slo" Mallinckrodt

Professor of Physics, Cal Poly Pomona
<http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm>

and

Lead Guitarist, Out-Laws of Physics
<http://www.csupomona.edu/~hsleff/OoPs.html>