Re: [Phys-L] playing for keeps

[rjensen@ualberta.ca]

You look up data! (And numerical data changes over time.) 
I don't ask my students to memorize physical constants, I teach
students where to find the data and how to assess the quality of the
data. If a person/student finds themselves using a number regularly,
they will memorize it so they don't have to look it up.

 Dr. Roy Jensen
(==========)-----------------------------------------¤
 Faculty Lecturer, Chemistry
 E5-33A, University of Alberta
 780.248.1808



On Sat, 29 Jun 2013 08:00:17 -0500, you wrote:

> On 6/29/2013 7:21 AM, Ken Caviness wrote:
> > Question for JSD!  What method do you use to almost immediately figure out the mass of the proton within 1% accuracy, so you haven't had to take the time and trouble to memorize it?  Tantalizing hint (can be done in less time than it takes to ask the question), but I'm drawing a blank -- unless you remember other things more easily, and find m_p from them?  (For example, the m_p/m_e ratio, or the nuclear magneton, or ....)
> /snip/
>
>
> I am undoubtedly missing the thrust of Ken's question, but recalling 
> Mp/Me is rather large, I can use the hydrogen mass as a good proxy for Mp.
>
> Brian Whatcott    Altus OK
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