Things People Learn Wrong in School?

[Bboy Physics]

The Octet Rule! I would have had a much better time in school and intro chem if I understood that it was mainly to C N O and F. I'm sure my teachers mentioned it at some point, but I never listened in high school. Sometimes I feel like I wasn't old enough to appreciate what was being taught in high school!

That's how I see a lot of people as.. but you got to remember there are people out there who really want to learn!

 

[fluidistic]

In elementary school (when I was 8) I was taught that the surface tension of water was due to gravity: Our teacher put the end of a pencil into water and removed it very slowly until it was over the surface but the water was still sticky on it. She said that it's the same force that the Moon exerts on Earth and create tides. The worst thing is that I believed her.

I don't think someone had a similar experience but if you do, please post. :)

 

[epenguin]

same for singers breaking wine glasses (at least it doesn't work for non defective glasses)

I think that one was more often seen a century or more ago when the average glass was a lot less perfect and had stresses in it.

I only saw it once, sitting at a restaurant table this thick glass suddenly exploded and all that was left was a fine glass powder (except for the stalk I think).

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

I think that one was more often seen a century or more ago when the average glass was a lot less perfect and had stresses in it.

I only saw it once, sitting at a restaurant table this thick glass suddenly exploded and all that was left was a fine glass powder (except for the stalk I think).

Oh yes glass can do that.

 

[epenguin]

I saw in an elementary physics book which was the book set for some students I briefly taught, about hydrostatic pressure, that deep sea fish had large mouths so as to equalise pressure outside and inside them and not be crushed.

 

[tahayassen]

The Octet Rule! I would have had a much better time in school and intro chem if I understood that it was mainly to C N O and F. I'm sure my teachers mentioned it at some point, but I never listened in high school. Sometimes I feel like I wasn't old enough to appreciate what was being taught in high school!

Can you please elaborate?

 

[Bipolarity]

In about year 7, first year of secondary school in the United Kingdom, most of my friends, my history, drama and English teachers had all tried, rather painstakingly, to convince me that 0/0 is 0. I knew this was false, but I didn't really understand why. Most of the world population would agree with them sadly. I did not have the chance to ask my math teacher. Then again, this was year 7. I now know that 0/0 is much more complicated than that...

BiP

 

[sophiecentaur]

In elementary school (when I was 8) I was taught that the surface tension of water was due to gravity: Our teacher put the end of a pencil into water and removed it very slowly until it was over the surface but the water was still sticky on it. She said that it's the same force that the Moon exerts on Earth and create tides. The worst thing is that I believed her.

I don't think someone had a similar experience but if you do, please post. :)

I have read the equivalent level of nonsense on some posts on PF in the past. When challenged, the posters have managed to get very stroppy, too!.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Dang me if the very next post I read (not on this thread) wasn't the finest of example of that. Teachers don't have a monopoly.