Re: Galileo Day

Tim Bates (tbates@karri.bhs.mq.edu.au)
Wed, 17 Feb 1999 15:16:29 +1100

Ian said
>> IAN: Sorry dude, your wrong, read it yourself,
>> from the textbook "Elementary Classical Physics"
>> (Allyn & Bacon, Inc. 1973, p.43), which says:
>>
>> "If one throws an object horizontally and
>> simultaneously drops a second body from
>> rest, the two objects strike a horizontal
>> plane at the same instant. The thrown object
>> strikes the surface with a larger velocity..."

Michael and several others correctly disagreed.

Perhaps an example will suffice. 

      "If one throws a glider horizontally and
      simultaneously drops a second body from
      rest, the two objects strike a horizontal
      plane at the same instant."

Hmmm. no.

A 747 is not "an object" it is an active agent in the air.

This discussion, treating a computer graphic reconstruction as a "video" and interpreting what is in fact a news report is futile.

In absentia a real video, we can't exclude either possibility.

There is one participant in this businness who does have an interest in what accoutn is accepted as real: Boeing. Accepting the explanation that the design of the kerosene tanks is such that with low fuel levels they can explode places liability onto Boeing. What did they say about this? Has the design been modified? (i hope so)

cheer's
tim