I make an explicit distinction between inertial mass and
gravitational mass.
Lets call them m' for inertial mass and m~ for gravitational mass.
If a is an acceleration due to an inertial force,
and g is the acceleration due to gravity, then
weight = (m~)(g)
inertial force = (m')(a)
See my illustration for the conjectured dependence of m~
on speed.
http://web.ncf.ca/eo200/dynamics/testing_weightNOV2006.pdf
Now m' is not suppose to decrease with horizontal speed.
If m~ decreases with horizontal speed then m' is different
from m~.
Harry
Robin van Spaandonk wrote:
> In reply to Harry Veeder's message of Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:40:25 -0500:
> Hi Harry,
> [snip]
>
> Is it possible you are confusing weight and mass? (You're certainly confusing
> me
> ;)
>
>> Michel,
>>
>> This time I am being serious.
>>
>> If one begins with the postulate that that all weight is
>> apparent weight then it is easier to understand how
>> and why weight anomalies might arise.
>>
>> Gravity is the tendency of a body to accelerate.
>> Weight is only a _measure_ of this tendency, and it is
>> a relative measure at best. A true measure of gravity is 'g'.
>>
>> Weight is also used as a measure of inertia, so there
>> is tendency to confuse inertia and weight. Mind you, in
>> applied mechanics, one treats weight as if it were
>> an inertial force.
>>
>> Einstein went further and turned the treatment
>> into a principle of nature, and the theory of general
>> relativity was born.
>>
>> Harry
>> PS On a half serious note. The condition of
>> of being over-weight is really the condition
>> of possessing excess inertia.
