Stop the Insanity: Definition of Definitions

Yeah, okay, I seem to be getting tons of messages (and comments) about this subject. What I thought were common well-defined definitions were, apparantly, not as defined as I thought.

For all of you out there who claim we can't know how far something is because DISTANCE is undefined, or because TIME is unknown, watch this video.


RESOURCES:
Wonderful summary of Time keeping and definitions of Time:
http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/time.html

History of Measurement and Metrics
http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/WEIGHTSandMEASURES/MetricHisto...

International System of Units (SI)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SI
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/sipm.html
http://www.alcyone.com/max/reference/physics/units.html

Please make sure your definitions are set straight.
This is, indeed, quite frustrating.

And thank you for websnarf, for being such a darling and helping me out with math, divisions and double-checking my base-divisors at 3:30 in the morning.

Enjoy your time, and most importantly:
Keep asking questions.

((Just make sure you ask ones that get you tinking towards progress ;) ))

~moo

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• definition
• standards
• si
• physics
• mooeypoo
• atheist

[hypnoid77]

The ambiguity of time may not be particularly relevant to what you are talking about, but it nevertheless is a centuries old philosophical issue that has been raised by thinkers from Heraclitus through Derrida. Defining it as a matter of scientific convention is fine in most practical contexts, but that doesn't invalidate the philosophical issues raised (no matter how out of place these issues are in the context of your lectures). Time is more than its definitions.

[mooeypoo]

True, but then argue PRINCIPLES of time, not definition of time :)

[aNewYorkMinute]

science doesn't aways agree with it's definitions....

example a black hole... hawkins contradiction...you are exactly right...definitions are just a arbitrary words that symbolize a standard :)

[mooeypoo]

Exactly :) we only use them for the sake of not going completely insane while conversing. They're also changing every now and then. Look at the definition of "Planet". It used to include Pluto ;)

[HowardFair]

Nothing is boring, Ablytan, but there are bored people. It's up to you if you want to be one, but I'd recommend against it.  This video (among other things) is about the importance of precise language to our understanding of the universe, which is not a yawn to me. Peace out.

[ablytan]

yawn !!!

[HowardFair]

I'm feeling that Boombastic Jazz Style lyric... "My definition is this..." But Mooey, although I'm enthralled by your videos,in the spirit of the most respectful worship (and geekdom) I submit that rotation is what the Earth does about its axis, and that it revolves about the Sun.

[gizmo2084]

Measurements?

I call them "freems." Or on the days I'm really hungry. I call them "cosmic ho-hos."

[jackdeath]

Don't worry so much about people who insist on redefining the world around them when losing an argument. If they were really interested in anything you had to say, they wouldn't waste their time finding nonsensical reason to disagree with you.

It's an old trick of the truly incompetent. If you can't win an argument on the facts, officiate with pure nonsense, and give the appearance to supporters that you are winning.

[theinquisitor]

I thought your comment might have been a preamble to claiming some kind of massive distortion of time so that things would be in accord with biblical timescales or some other insanity. So I thought I would point out the giant flaw the argument you might make, but didn't.

[1ukia]

Moo has a cool voice.. and the things she says with it.. it tricks me into thinking that I am learning something!! I feel like I am.. I feel a little smarter afterwards.. but.. me thinks it's a trick.. I'm stupid.. trying to fix that! Random comment! (: