2 approaching objects at velocity

harrylin

For me that is improper terminology; just as with such words as "mass", "inertial" etc. the unnecessary modification of perfectly functional definitions causes an ever increasing stream of confusions. Regretfully we can't change this situation, and the reasonable solution is to make clear what we mean when we use such words that have different meanings in different schools.

Note: Most of the time I think to give the good example in this. Please don't hesitate to tick me on my fingers when I forget!

ghwellsjr

Exactly what is improper terminology?

harrylin

I slightly exaggerated, but what one may find proper, someone else may find not so proper.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proper?s=t
Do you find Orwell's Newspeak proper? For example, the introduction of a new term could be based on misunderstanding. Promoting it would then sustain misconception. Probably this forum is not the place to discuss such philosophical issues (and certainly not this thread!), but I think that we should have a place to discuss that kind of things on PF. Regretfully even the "PF lounge" doesn't have place for that anymore (the rules were changed) while it does have place for science fiction and relationships.
If you agree with my wish, I'll bring it up in the Forum Feedback.

I do consider to make a blog on that topic, some time in the future.

ghwellsjr

When I asked "Exactly what is improper terminology?", I wasn't asking for a definition of "improper terminology". I was asking which of the several terminologies in your quote of mine in post #18 you considered "improper".

harrylin

OK, I already elaborated on that in post #15 - and I further replied:
Well?

ghwellsjr

Prior to Einstein's theory of Special Relativity, that is, under Galilean relativity, "closing speed" and "relative speed" meant the same thing but now they mean different things. Is that your point? Are you saying we can't make a distinction between them because someone might still be using the old-fashioned Galilean definition?

harrylin

No, I think that I only heard of the term "closing speed" long after my studies. To my knowledge Einstein did not use it.