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To: Final Authority

I majored in physics, and have taught Honors Physics for 30 years and Advanced Placement (college credit) Physics for 15 years, as well. A lot of my students score 5 (highest) on the mechanics and E&M tests each year. They get the energy and power questions right.

I have to spend some time showing kids the correct meanings of energy and power since they have heard so many people using them incorrectly all their lives. I have read literature from electric companies that uses the terms incorrectly, too.

I would suggest you go to any college and ask any college physics professor and you will see I am right.

I said agreed with most (but not all) of what you said, so I am a bit confused about where your complaint is. Is it my statement that electric companies don't sell power? Or that you can't buy power? Do you have any complaints about my post 74? At least 'stripes1776' knows I am right. See post 53.


77 posted on 07/30/2005 7:40:49 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: Right Wing Assault
I have to spend some time showing kids the correct meanings of energy and power since they have heard so many people using them incorrectly all their lives. I have read literature from electric companies that uses the terms incorrectly, too.

If you haven't already found it, I think you'd enjoy this site: Science Myths. It has an extensive section on electricity. I think that electromagnetic theory is the least understood area of physics. Feynman even gives the (incorrect) "rolling wave" interpretation of Maxwell's Equations in his physics books, eg. a change in B causes a change in E a "short distance away". Ummm, that would be action-at-a-distance.

80 posted on 07/30/2005 8:36:57 PM PDT by mikegi
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