|
Post by gillianren on Sept 24, 2009 13:58:23 GMT -4
July 17th 1969, the day after the Apollo 11 launch and some 24 years after Goddard's death. Yeah, I know. I was being silly. I love science. I find it fascinating. I am capable of grasping quite a lot of the basic concepts. The reason I didn't take physics in college was that I was fairly sure I wouldn't learn anything. The numbers just fly out of my head. When complicated equations are brought forth, my eyes glaze over and I have to skim to the end of the post to get to something I can understand. I am grateful to those who do understand it, though, because the world as we know it couldn't exist without them. I think one of the differences, though, is that I know I don't know what I'm talking about. I know what's important and why I'm no help with it. I like to think I am still helpful to the debate, because I am capable of pointing out little flaws in logic that others don't always notice, but I leave it to a lot of you to deal with the physics.
|
|
|
Post by theteacher on Sept 24, 2009 15:22:18 GMT -4
Much of the simplest physics is counter intuitive for many people, and for some completely unintelligible. In Copenhagen's famous (?) Tivoli-garden there is an attraction named "Det Gyldne Tårn" (The Golden Tower). The visitors are elevated 65 meters (200 feet) up above the ground and after a short while by means of pneumatics rushed towards the ground with an acceleration of 1,5 g. The visitors are encouraged to bring a plastic beer mug filled with water in order to experience what happens with the water on the way down. Recently the Danish Minister of Education, Bertel Haarder, whom I otherwise highly respect, tried out the tower, and he was filmed to television on his way up and down, and he was afterwards interviewed to camera. www.berlingske.dk/clip/4510I know, that the Danish language is an impossible obstacle for almost anyone, but the essence of what he explains to the journalist is the following: He is aware, that the water leaves the mug on the way down - and that it afterwards wets his trousers because: 1. He believes, that he is in free fall on his way down (which he actually isn't). 2. He is heavier than the water, so therefore he accelerates faster than the water, which is lighter than he himself is. I will give him, that as soon as he realizes, that he is mistaken, he immediately accepts it publicly to a newspaper. www.videnskab.dk/composite-2886.htmToday I have discussed the theme with my 7. grade physics class, and their intuitive concept of gravity as a whole includes the conception, that he is right. The point is, that Aristotle's concept of gravity seemingly is what most people intuitively consider a fact, and that even a highly educated man as the Danish Minster of Education, in spite of his many virtues, doesn't get the concept right. So among other demonstrations I showed them the Hammer and Feather experiment from Apollo 15, and none of them mentioned the hoax-beliefs. Maybe there is still hope for a new generation
|
|
|
Post by gillianren on Sept 24, 2009 16:13:43 GMT -4
The Tivoli Garden is famous enough that I've heard of it, for what that's worth.
|
|