think physics must be taught badly in schools as we never get consistent answers to fairly simple questions about battery's/alternators and charging etc.
Apparently there is still widely held incorrect belief amongst the motor trade that fitting a higher capacity battery to a car will damage the alternator. I read that on a car battery makers website.
Students emerging from colleges with NVQ's and better qualifications in motor mechanics and engineering often [well ALL of the ones I have seen] haven't a clue how to wire a simple relay.
Huw
Maruice Cole (hotspot) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
Is Physics taught as badly as spelling, grammar and punctuation?
To be quite honest, Physics as such just isn't taught in most schools. Almost all schools now teach some form of combined science course, and often one teacher delivers the whole course. Physicists as such are in very short supply, which is why I, as Head of IT, taught A-level physics last year (yes I used to be a physics teacher). This year I can't fit it in my timetable and two chemists are doing the stuff I did.
I think you meant "Physic's"
The message from "Huw" contains these words:
Students emerging from college with NVQs and better qualifications in just about anything haven't a clue about just about anything.
Well, I think most of the people who learned stuff at school probably have better paid jobs. However, I do think there is plenty of room for improvement in schools.
Mark W (s@o) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
Indeed. Quite how somebody who can't even spell his own name correct (assuming it wasn't his parents or the registrar to blame) can hope to be taken seriously whilst throwing a whinge about the state of education about...
Why would anybody doing Physics at school learn about a car charging system? Surely they'd do that if they joined the motor trade and were sent on the NVQ courses.
The message from Adrian contains these words:
You don't think I was /christened/ Skipweasel, do you? (insert smiley of your choice here).
It is taught, but most people never listen (or forget as soon as they've passed the exam) Anybody working in a dealership doesn't have to worry about such things, as the auto-spark does all that.
Guy King ( snipped-for-privacy@zetnet.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
Yes, but at least you can spell it...
Somehow, I suspect Maruice might be a slightly different scenario...
I distinctly remember doing electrical circuits and volts and amps for O level physics. I also remember doing refrigeration. Also remember that virtually none of this was related to a practical application like a car. The teacher lacked the imagination for that I suppose.
Huw
It does seem that main dealers land up with the dregs while charging upwards of £50/hour. The 'fitters' really do not know their born in such places. If they had to repair a dozer broken down in a bog 50 miles from the depot they would earn their money and have some respect for their versatility and skill.
Huw
Yes, the basics for sure, but practical applications are rarely mentioned at the academic level.
I certainly never had anything mentioned when I did my physics, and nothing even covered alternators at all, only the basics of generators.
I only learnt about alternators and lead-acid batteries when I went to FE when I did my apprenticeship.
The message from "Huw" contains these words:
Talking of which - I was idly eyeing up the fridge this evening wondering if it was worth running the cold water feed to the hot water tank through a heat exchanger to pick up the waste heat from the fridge to preheat and save a little energy.
Probably never pay for itself, but it'd make the fridge run efficiently and it'd be fun.
The message from "Huw" contains these words:
That's the bit that's missing these days. When you learned on buggered Puch Maxis and Fiat 127s and Atco lawnmoers you have some idea of the variety of ways of doing things and got used to there being more than one way of skinning a cat.
Most of the Herberts chucked out of the governments darling paperfactories are completely stuck if they come across anything unfamiliar. Worse, they /stay/ that way even after ten years doing the job 'cos they've never grasped how to learn, they've just been force fed with stuff instead of being given the ability to develop their own understanding.
Yep, the best mechanic I know learnt by cobbling together clapped out old cars. He can hardly read or write yet give him an auto transmission, a sophisticated multi-speed semi-powershift, any engine, axle or hydraulic system and he will rip it apart, repair it and reassemble in the time most will have been standing around scratching their heads and installing an exchange unit. That's the difference between a skilled mechanic who earns respect and an overrated fitter who 'can't do that mate'.
Huw
Yes but with winter coming you would be removing heat that is warming the house....:-)
In summer I'd say it's a cracking idea!
They should be because they make everything so much more interesting. In fact I mentioned practical applications of both those systems to the teacher and he was completely ignorant of them. He was extremely surprised when I gained a first grade in the subject but it was just so easy for me because I enjoyed it and took an interest.
Can't say I remember if rechargeable batteries were covered when I did O levels. It was, let's see, oh dear me.......over 30 years ago .
Huw
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