That forces _cause_ accelerations then is a pretty important concept
OK, I'll bite.
Let's forget everything else and discuss this one point, namely the
_importance_ of "knowing" that forces cause accelerations (and not
vice versa).
Suppose I'm a student in your class. Please motivate me. Please tell
me why I need to "know" that forces cause accelerations.
In particular, suppose I plan on having a research career, calculating
forces, measuring forces, calculating accelerations, measuring accelerations,
et cetera, all day every day.
What penalty will I pay for not "knowing" that forces cause accelerations?
The question is addressed to everyone, not just Professor T: What will I
be able to do with "force causes ma" that I can't do with "force equals ma"?
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I will not accept the answer that I need to "know" forces cause accelerations
(and not vice versa) so that I can get a teaching job, teaching that "fact"
to the next generation of students. That argument is circular in the worst
sense of the term. I'm sorry to be hard-nosed about this, but I really want
to see some objective scientific evidence.
Also please don't tell me I need to "know" it in order to pass the class. I
am not well motivated by grades (and have the grades to prove it :-). I want
to know why this is important in the real world.