Re: [Phys-l] interaction

[carmelo@pacific.net.sg]

Quoting John Clement <clement@hal-pc.org>:

> Actually the term interaction is not an "official" physics term, but is
> rather used by specific curricula.  It might eventually become a standard
> term with time.  But of course there are a number of examples of terms which
> do not have "standard" definitions and vary from author to author.  My
> favorite example here is "weight".
>
> John M. Clement
> Houston, TX

Below is one of my favorite questions on weight...

The inhabitants in the Moon have no agreement on the definition of  
weight. Three definitions are commonly found, namely
(i) weight is the force of gravity on an object.
(ii) weight is the mass of the object multiplied by the value of the  
acceleration of free fall with respect to the surface of the Moon,
(iii) weight is the force a body exerts on its support when it is at  
rest on the Moon’s surface.
Explain how the three definitions result in three different values for  
the weight of a 1 kg mass at the “equator” of the Moon.

Alphonsus