Re: [Phys-l] The History of MASS

["John M Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

Notice the WE take it for granted.  This decidedly does not include 
students.  And apparently it does not include the US government 
because NBS has some statements on the web where they apparently use 
both terms interchangeably.  The confusion that students experience is 
compounded because many teachers have used the two terms as synonyms, 
and the use of g= 9.8 m/s^2 in F_g = m g  produces even more 
confusion.  If trips to the Moon were routine this confusion would 
probably evaporate.  Just an experience in the Vomit Comit might also 
be helpful, but it is $$$$$$$ to do this.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX
 
> | 
> | Thanks to all for the comments and suggested resources.
> | 
> | The reason I asked the question is that, after many years of 
> | teaching Physics, that the idea of separating the concepts of 
> | weight and mass seems to be decidedly non trivial especially 
> | to thinkers who are trapped on the earth's surface.  We seem 
> | to take it for granted today, especially in the space age, 
> | that the distinction is obvious but my question was simply to 
> | get at the mechanism for its development.  What was it that 
> | lead to the need for this concept?
> |