--On 25 February 2003 08:52 +0000 pvalev <pvalev@...> wrote:

> Could a lecture start with "Today we are going to test the second law of
thermodynamics"?!? ... The realistic scenario: The teacher never mentions
the problem because, in accordance with the metaphor "perpetuum mobile of
the second kind", those who attempt to test the second law are just as mad
as those who try to obtain energy out of nothing. The teacher could simply
lose his/her job.
> Comments?
>
>

This does not sound that realistic. I'm sure many teachers do not think to
do demonstrations or experiments which could 'disprove' accepted science,
but why suggest such an action would result in sacking! (Even assuming the
Head/Principal knew enough science to realise what was being tested!)
Surely school/college science commonly includes experiments which could
disprove accepted science? For example, how often do we 'discover' that in
our classrooms g is far from 9.807 N/kg?

Keith




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