Comments on: Facts and Figures

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:20:17 +0000

Another great post. I agree that it’s much more important go to know why something matters than to memorize numbers.

By: Neil Dickson

Neil Dickson — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 04:35:02 +0000

It blew my mind when I learned that the ideal gas law (Pressure * Volume = number of moles * R * Temperature) constant (R) was just Avogadro’s number times the Boltzmann constant (k), basically expressing the law in terms of energies of single particles, i.e. PV = sum of particle energies. However, I’m used to thinking about the Boltzmann constant at the quantum level, so that got me wondering, why do the gas molecules count as the particles in that equation, and not the individual atoms or even their electrons? They get excited by the temperature by the same amount of energy on average (kT), but I guess somehow, their effect on the pressure and volume ends up cancelling out except for one particle’s worth per molecule, because they’re coupled together into the molecules, but the molecules are not bound together.

By: Jeanie

Jeanie — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 19:00:02 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. If I had the “why does it matter” answers I might have gone into science in high school and college.

By: Kenny Danielson

Kenny Danielson — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:25:03 +0000

Lazy teachers. It is much easier, faster to grade an exam answer displaying a number or word than one that proves understanding of a concept. For instance, history teachers ask who and when the cotton gin was invented not caring whether the student understands the tremendous economic and social revolution it forced on the South. Multiple-choice technical exams for licensing candidates by the US Govt. are guilty of the same.

By: Brian Koberlein

Brian Koberlein — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:31:42 +0000

There’s a link in the post on seasons that explains it.

By: Venky Venkataraman

Venky Venkataraman — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:29:28 +0000

Brian, nice article. Can you for understanding write an article as to how the orbital tilt causes the seasons. I just can’t figure out in my head how tilt as opposed to the distance from sun causes seasons?
Thanks,
Venky

By: Martin Selmke

Martin Selmke — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:01:52 +0000

Absolutely right.
I’m afraid this confusing weakly understood facts with science is unfortunately even increasing.
I suppose one reason is, that pupils prefer straightforward learning over growing their comprehension, because it appears as a mere matter of effort and seems to guarantee a way to success. Otherwise some confidence in own capabilities are needed.
This is perhaps enforced by relatively higher percentages of (formally) higher education and reinforced by teachers, who reached their final degree already this way.

By: Arturo Gutierrez

Arturo Gutierrez — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 15:52:41 +0000

Great post! 🙂