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Re: [Phys-l] The History of MASS



On Oct 20, 2006, at 11:08 AM, Rauber, Joel wrote:

Even worse is the distinction between inertial mass and gravitational
mass concepts. The principle of equivalence makes it even harder to
recognize that these are two distinct concepts. ...

Joel,

Without failing to take your point, I think this gets it backward. The Principle of Equivalence certainly doesn't make it harder to recognize the distinction. Quite the contrary, it points directly at that distinction and begs for us to be surprised that there apparently is no genuine distinction. If anything it EXPLAINS why the distinction IS hard to recognize.


John Mallinckrodt

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

and

Lead Guitarist, Out-Laws of Physics
<http://outlawsofphysics.com>