In order to fully appreciate the stupidity of this raving you need to first understand some basic terms associated with Physics.
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of two surfaces in contact or a surface in contact with a fluid (e.g. air on an aircraft or water in a pipe). It is not a fundamental force, as it is derived from electromagnetic forces between atoms and electrons, must be found empirically. When contacting surfaces move relative to each other, the friction between the two objects converts kinetic energy into thermal energy, or heat. Friction should not be confused with traction. Surface area does not affect friction significantly, but in traction it is essential. Traction refers to the friction between a drive member and the surface it moves upon, where the friction is used to provide motion. – (Definition provided by Wikipedia)
Mass is defined as the amount of matter an object has. The weight of an object on earth depends on the force of attraction (gravity) between the object and earth. For example your mass remains the same on earth as it would be on the moon; however your weight would be different. – (Definition provided by Wikipedia)
Having been a student of the biological sciences for many, I was aptly aware of these principles. But one Friday afternoon, I had been given a completely different interpretation of them, which made me suspicious of the education system altogether.
Our raving starts like this:
I, along with many of my high school colleagues, had attended university in a different city than where our high school was located. Naturally there were those that required lifts from the university to home on weekends. Since I had a car, I was always willing to give a lift to those in need. One Friday afternoon I was asked by Ikasas if I could give her a lift home, and of course I obliged.
Since we had left later than usual we were stuck in rush hour traffic. The traffic was slow and steady until we got to the bridge over the river. As soon as we were on the bridge, traffic came to a stand still as the cars were bumper to bumper. It was then that Ikasas began to panic, and I mean panic. She started getting jittery in her seat, saying “oh my God, oh my God”.
I asked what the matter was, to which she replied “the bridge is going to collapse.” Now I got worried… did she know something that I didn’t??? So in a more elevated state of concern, I asked again what the matter was.
To my absolute amazement this was the answer I got: “The cars on the bridge are coming to a stop. The weight is going to make the bridge collapse!!” It was at that point that I almost burst out laughing, but I just had to ask “How do you figure that?!”
And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Ikasas replied: “Because the friction of the cars on the bridge holds the bridge up!!” She even made the hand motions of riding over her hand and the bridge lifting.
I killed myself laughing; I mean how is that possible?? Firstly, since when does your weight increase when you stop moving? Secondly, the force friction does not hold up a bridge, that concept in itself is ludicrous. What possible logic does that follow?
Anyway after I managed to get myself together I managed to explain everything to her. To this day, I still think that she is scared of bridges.
--> In the words of Nelson from the Simpsons – Ha Ha <--
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of two surfaces in contact or a surface in contact with a fluid (e.g. air on an aircraft or water in a pipe). It is not a fundamental force, as it is derived from electromagnetic forces between atoms and electrons, must be found empirically. When contacting surfaces move relative to each other, the friction between the two objects converts kinetic energy into thermal energy, or heat. Friction should not be confused with traction. Surface area does not affect friction significantly, but in traction it is essential. Traction refers to the friction between a drive member and the surface it moves upon, where the friction is used to provide motion. – (Definition provided by Wikipedia)
Mass is defined as the amount of matter an object has. The weight of an object on earth depends on the force of attraction (gravity) between the object and earth. For example your mass remains the same on earth as it would be on the moon; however your weight would be different. – (Definition provided by Wikipedia)
Having been a student of the biological sciences for many, I was aptly aware of these principles. But one Friday afternoon, I had been given a completely different interpretation of them, which made me suspicious of the education system altogether.
Our raving starts like this:
I, along with many of my high school colleagues, had attended university in a different city than where our high school was located. Naturally there were those that required lifts from the university to home on weekends. Since I had a car, I was always willing to give a lift to those in need. One Friday afternoon I was asked by Ikasas if I could give her a lift home, and of course I obliged.
Since we had left later than usual we were stuck in rush hour traffic. The traffic was slow and steady until we got to the bridge over the river. As soon as we were on the bridge, traffic came to a stand still as the cars were bumper to bumper. It was then that Ikasas began to panic, and I mean panic. She started getting jittery in her seat, saying “oh my God, oh my God”.
I asked what the matter was, to which she replied “the bridge is going to collapse.” Now I got worried… did she know something that I didn’t??? So in a more elevated state of concern, I asked again what the matter was.
To my absolute amazement this was the answer I got: “The cars on the bridge are coming to a stop. The weight is going to make the bridge collapse!!” It was at that point that I almost burst out laughing, but I just had to ask “How do you figure that?!”
And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Ikasas replied: “Because the friction of the cars on the bridge holds the bridge up!!” She even made the hand motions of riding over her hand and the bridge lifting.
I killed myself laughing; I mean how is that possible?? Firstly, since when does your weight increase when you stop moving? Secondly, the force friction does not hold up a bridge, that concept in itself is ludicrous. What possible logic does that follow?
Anyway after I managed to get myself together I managed to explain everything to her. To this day, I still think that she is scared of bridges.
--> In the words of Nelson from the Simpsons – Ha Ha <--
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