truth and science
Paul Arveson (arveson@oasys.dt.navy.mil)
Fri, 6 Jun 1997 10:15:46 -0500>No doubt there are some verities in the ongoing discussion of truth on
>this listserv. But the statement "The atomic weight of Gold is 79" " is
>not one of them.. I was going to let that goof pass, but since it is now
>being incorporated into "truth" theory, it's time for a correction.
>
>The atomic _number_ of gold is 79. But the atomic "weight" (or, atomic
>_mass_, as we physicists call it) of a natural mixture of gold isotopes
>is 197.0.
>
>All that glitters is not truth.
>
>Don DeGraaf
>
Gold is not a 'natural mixture'; it has only one stable isotope, 197.
We continue to make approximations toward the truth....
Paul Arveson, Code 724, Signatures Directorate, NSWC
arveson@oasys.dt.navy.mil bridges@his.com
(301) 227-3831 (W) (301) 816-9459 (H) (301) 227-4511 (FAX)