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Friday, October 14, 2005 12:00 AM

Ask the pilot

Exploding tires and bad math; the pilot exposes his darkest secrets.

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Tuesday, October 18, 2005 04:35 PM

Physics Bloviation

Patrick -

Wouldn't it be lovely if the folks so ready to jump down your throat with doubles of hemlock in their hairy little fists actually possessed the superior knowledge they presumed to impart, while roasting your spleen over the keen fire of their intellect? Then we could say, "Wow, he is so right and I was so wrong, and I really learned something. Sure my spleen hurts but I'm OK with it." But NO! When was the last time some supercilious snot spent his morning crafting a world-class diss and delivered the goods? Anyone, anyone? I know, never is a long, long time, but I'm still hopeful.

With due respect, there are no "reverse acting" forces affecting the inertia of a body in motion. Were there such, we might expect to feel comfortably pressed back into our seats during a fast stop. There are STATIC forces against which momentum is drained away - pavement against tires, calipers against rotors, seatbelt against body. Sorry, Steve Demuth of Decorah, Iowa, no prize-winner this week, but keep cracking those books and try again real soon. ;} SMN

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