Re: The definition of weight

From: Donald G. Shead (dcshead_at_charter.net)
Date: 06/18/04 

Date: 18 Jun 2004 04:41:12 -0700

"Mark Nudelman" <markn@greenwoodsoftware.com> wrote in message news:<N_uAc.48970$Hg2.41438@attbi_s04>...
> "Donald G. Shead" <dcshead@charter.net> wrote in message
> news:48402bae.0406171842.2ca7bdb9@posting.google.com...
> > Weight [w] does not, and cannot be
> > w = mg, because m = w/g :: Therefore
> > w = [w/g]g, and/or w = [f/a]g...
>
> I'm trying to understand what you can possibly mean by this. By simple
> algebra, w=mg is equivalent to m=w/g. They mean exactly the same thing.
> How can you say that one is true and the other is not?
>
> --Mark

What are the _terms_ in mass? Mass [m] is the ratio of force divided
by the acceleration that it causes; which is equal to the ratio w/g;
where either one of these ratios - f/a or w/g - is a measure of the
mass, and/or the quantity of matter in the mass: Mass is not an
algebraic term in itself: The terms of mass [m] are f/a and w/g; which
can only be moved to the other side of an equation by using
parentheses: As [f/a], or as [w/g]; so that m = [f/a] = [w/g].

So that for m = [w/g], in order for w to be moved by itself; we first
have to do the math within the parentheses; in order to get rid of
them: That's one of the first rules of doing algebra:

So if w = 32#, and g = 32''/sec^2; then the mass is m =
[32#/(32'/sec^2)] = ONE pound/(ONE foot/sec^2); or ONE pound
second^2/foot; which is ONE slug!

Or we have the option: w = [w/g]g = [m]g

Parentheses are useful _necessities_ in algeba: They define and
delimit algebraic "terms"! You've got to know when, and where to use
them!

Relevant Pages

  • Re: The definition of weight
    ... by the acceleration that it causes; which is equal to the ratio w/g; ... mass, and/or the quantity of matter in the mass: ... second^2/foot; which is ONE slug! ... Parentheses are useful _necessities_ in algeba: ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: The definition of weight
    ... by the acceleration that it causes; which is equal to the ratio w/g; ... mass, and/or the quantity of matter in the mass: ... second^2/foot; which is ONE slug! ... Parentheses are useful _necessities_ in algeba: ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: The definition of weight
    ... by the acceleration that it causes; which is equal to the ratio w/g; ... mass, and/or the quantity of matter in the mass: ... second^2/foot; which is ONE slug! ... Parentheses are useful _necessities_ in algeba: ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: The definition of weight
    ... by the acceleration that it causes; which is equal to the ratio w/g; ... mass, and/or the quantity of matter in the mass: ... second^2/foot; which is ONE slug! ... Parentheses are useful _necessities_ in algeba: ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: The definition of weight
    ... by the acceleration that it causes; which is equal to the ratio w/g; ... mass, and/or the quantity of matter in the mass: ... second^2/foot; which is ONE slug! ... Parentheses are useful _necessities_ in algeba: ...
    (sci.math)