(no subject)

[camwyn]

I've realized, I think, what part of the reason is for my dislike of the last day of a trip. It's something I learned in high school physics. When measuring the distance an object travels, physics only measures the distance between where it started and where it finally stopped moving.

If it returns to the place it left from, even if it's looped halfway around the universe in the process, it hasn't traveled any distance at all.

Comments

[tundra-no-caps.livejournal.com]

The work is zero, and the Delta travel is zero.

[derien.livejournal.com]

One of my coworkers used that argument about going to work. "Why am I doing this? I leave home in the morning and I get back there at night, so I really haven't done anything because I'm back in the same place."

:)

[moonlup.livejournal.com]

That's where the difference between displacement and distance comes in. But you probably know this.

Why, yes, I am indeed understanding my physics the second time round. :D

[sylveraven.livejournal.com]

That seems almost existential.

Or something.

But I agree, completely.