Energy = Work * 8 hours
Posted in Work on 07/15/2008 10:43 pm by enjanerdMan, I can’t believe how much blog fodder my office has been supplying me with the past couple weeks!
Today, I went by to help VTGuy use MathCAD. He had never used it before, so wanted some hand-holding. Ok, fine… I said I was taking responsibility for people’s competence around here. He took the initiative to try it, so I will do my part.
He wanted to type in some equations (all numerical calculations, no variables) and have it show units too. So, I showed him how the basic syntax works, how to get the formatting right so fractions line up all pretty, etc. And then he got confused when he entered in N*m and the result came out as J.
“But this is supposed to be an energy.”
Joules are a unit of energy. They’re Newton-meters.
“No they’re not. They’re something with Watts.”
I start to explain energy and how to calculate it (force*distance, a.k.a. N*m), then work and how, yes, you can calculate energy if you have work and a time…
ResumeLiar, who shares an office with VTGuy, decides to jump in too, “Uh, are you sure? I think VTGuy is right.”
Uhm. Yes, I’m sure.
1) I love MathCAD. If MathCAD says so, I’m sure going to believe it over you two nimrods.
2) A Joule is the SI unit of energy. We learned that in 7th grade.
3) I’ve been calculating impact energies with Boss Jr for 3 weeks. I am familiar with units of energy.
Also, who the hell let you people graduate from college? As engineers? Seriously??
But, sure. Let’s make this a “discussion.” Let’s everyone share their feelings and say what they think.
So they both pull up wikipedia to show me how wrong I am. Oh, surprise. I’m right. I’d appreciate the last 10 minutes of my life back now, thanks.
I offer them each a Mr. Yuck sticker for sub-par performance today.
07/16/2008 at 7:41 am
God damn it, this is not hard! The definition of energy is force acting over a distance - and what is a unit of force? Newtons? How about distance? Do meters count? How can you employ this cretards? And it’s not like they even had a concrete, better answer. “It’s something with Watts,” what the hell kind of an answer is that? This is the basics, not even application. I mean, I guess a Joule is technically “something” with Watts - Watt-seconds. Like Watt-hours on your electrical meter. Measuring how much energy you use. Because Watts are a rate and Joules are a sum. I am offended by their ignorance.
07/16/2008 at 9:16 am
Oh, I love that you’re offended by their ignorance. I cut a line out of this entry because I was just rambling/ranting. Something to the effect of, “I would be upset at their stupidity if I weren’t so offended that they *both* tried to tell me I was wrong! About something in which they were so clearly wrong!”
Also, their response upon being pwned by Isaac Newton: “Oh.”
07/16/2008 at 9:25 am
next time, make them read the manual… or use the on-line help with mathcad… this is ridiculous… no more hand-holding… that’s what elementary school was for.
i’m tired of reading these rants.. makes me too angry to work… :P
07/16/2008 at 10:58 am
isaac newton?? who’s that? :-)
07/16/2008 at 2:53 pm
bubba — Sorry. :P They make *me* too angry to work. Knowing that I can share their stupidity with the world is the only way I make it through the day!
moomoo — old guy, dead. something with an apple? i think he discovered those fruit cookies or something.
07/16/2008 at 4:18 pm
ohhh… I love the strawberry ones…
07/16/2008 at 4:19 pm
it’s fruit and cake! :-D
07/16/2008 at 6:48 pm
Today’s quote: “Gossip kills three: the speaker, the spoken person, the listener.” First I didn’t understand what it meant. Now by ready the comments, it helps me to see the picture a little better. If we rant it and forget and forgive, that’s great and not just to help us get through the day, but to free us from our anger. However, if we cannot forget and forgive, that accumulating anger and frustration in us can really hurt someone.
Another helpful hint: “Don’t let the sun go down while we are still angry.”
I love the strawberries one too, haha, that is very funny!
Cheers!