Ron Hitler Barrassi wrote:
> 
> 
> Ron Hitler Barrassi wrote:
> 
>>
>>
>> Kevin Gowen wrote:
>>
>>> Ron Hitler Barrassi wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kevin Gowen wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Ron Hitler Barrassi wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ron Hitler Barrassi wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If that is the case, why did you suggest using a spring based 
>>>>>>>>> device to measure the downward force 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Because I have heard of Hooke's Law.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But not the gravitional constant apparently.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> when the correct way to measure force is it's effect on moving 
>>>>>>>>> *a* body of mass?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It's "effect"? I don't even know what that is supposed to mean. 
>>>>>>>> Who says that a mass acted upon by a force must be in motion? 
>>>>>>>> Push against a building as hard as you can. The building does 
>>>>>>>> not move, but you are still exerting a force upon it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> F=ma
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> (I've highlighted the definite article to draw attention to your 
>>>>>>> misreading)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I didn't elaborate on this point. You cannot use a spring to 
>>>>>> measure a force. 
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Really? Don't tell Hooke.
>>>>>
>>>>>> It can only be used to measure weight (NB deliberate use of 
>>>>>> "weight", not "mass" not "force", but "weight". 
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Weight is a force.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Weight is a scalar. Force is a vector. 
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Weight, being a force and having magnitude and direction, is a vector.
>>
>>
>>
>> and weight is measured in kilograms.
>>
>> Game. Set. Match.
>> Thank you.
>>
>> Must be tough for you playing against someone who is thinking several 
>> moves ahead.
>>
>> Oh and when I jump out the building to test the bathroom scales as you 
>> suggested how much do I weigh?
>>
>>>
>>>> You don't weigh in the direction of anything.  
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In this planet, your weight is a force vector in the direction of the 
>>> earth's center of mass. This is why you place a scale beneath you 
>>> rather than on top of your head.
>>>
>>>> As you are in Florida your weight is in a different direction to 
>>>> mine? (I'll let you off this one)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes.
>>>
>>>>>> A spring, like your tug of war rope, requires a force at both ends 
>>>>>> to expand, or contract.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes. In the case of a bathroom scale that measures weight with a 
>>>>> spring, the person standing on the scale provides *the* force at 
>>>>> one end. The floor beneath the scale provides the force at the 
>>>>> other end.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You missed the definite article again.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> You called "a" the definite article again.
>>
>>
>>
>> 'the' is the definite article?
>>
>>>
>>>> If a force act on a spring the spring will accelerate off in the 
>>>> direction of the force. We would lose a lot of springs that way. 
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> A force need not result in motion. Compress a spring between your 
>>> thumb and a finger. Force is acting on the spring, 
>>
>>
>>
>> Forces are acting on the spring.
>>
>>  From 2 directions, one from my finger and the other from my thumb. 
>> Two digits, two forces. (The opposite of your Not "a force", two 
>> forces. Equal and opposite, Newton's 3rd is satisfied. I can't 
>> compress a spring with one finger, sort of like one hand clapping. 
>> Really this is too easy. Take a break, Kevin.
>>
> 
> Did you take a break or my server ignored you?

This is just too comical. I can't believe you necroed this thread. Most 
people in your position would have taken the opportunity to stay quiet 
and salvage a minimal amount of face. I had given you the benefit of the 
doubt and assumed you were just ripping off my Andy Kaufman schtick, but 
now it seems you are sincere.

It finally dawned on me that your misunderstanding results from your 
ignorance of the difference between force and work. This fact reflects 
that you have no knowledge of physics whatsoever, although such might 
have been gleaned from the fact that you asserted the "gravitational 
constant" has a value of 1, that "m" stands for mass in grams, and that 
"down" is a vector.

Regarding your confusion as to what are the definite and indefinite 
articles, I refer you to this page for novice students of English as a 
second language:
http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blathe.htm

Lastly, regarding one hand clapping:
http://tanizaki.org/zen.wmv

-- 
FAB = -FBA
It's not just a good idea; it's the law.