Re: "Simple pendulum"

[Bea or Rick Tarara <rbtarara@SPRYNET.COM>]

Ludwik,

I suspect Jack was having the same reaction that I had.  Yes this is a
misconception (at least your misconception), but is it really common enough
(or common at all) such that it warrants a place on THE LIST (which seems to
have some duplications by the way).  I guess it doesn't _really_ hurt to
include it, but I would prefer that we stick to those misconceptions
(student and instructor alike) that are most prevalent in the physics
curricula.


Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: Ludwik Kowalski <KowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>

> Every misconception can be ridiculed by those who
> know better. But it REALLY WAS my misconception.
> Where did it come from? Probably from knowing
> that, mathematically, a circular motion with constant
> speed is a superposition of harmonic oscillations along
> the x and y axes. The equality of amplitudes and the
> phase difference of 90 or 270 degrees always leads to
> circular motion.
>
> Are you opposing the idea of collecting misconceptions,
> Jack? I mean misconceptions some of us had, and also
> those we identify in minds of students. No, I am not
> referring to misconceptions such as "cows must drink
> a white fluid to produce white milk."