[Ian Iveson]

John continued:

Did anyone say you do? You clearly end up with the original number
after squaring a square root.

Everyone who ends up with an rms value for power. Square rms voltage and
you
get mean square voltage. Divide by the resistance and you get mean power.
The
root disappears because the rms value is squared.

I think I've made the point I was trying to make.

No you haven't, I for one don't have a clue what point you are trying to
make, your explanation is clear as mud. I understand that power is
power and am guessing that may be the point you are trying to make, but
if I didn't already know that I wouldn't have a clue that was your
point, assuming it even is, from what you wrote.

If you understand the point I am trying to make, and think you can "explain"
it better, don't be shy. Would you have been happier had I simply said "power
is power"? (1)

For my part, I sincerely hope I never "explain" anything (2). "Explanation"
may briefly expand knowledge, but it kills understanding. If you feel that
understanding is a collection of "explanations", you have missed out on the
Meaning of Life.

It is particularly problematic here to explore a misconception without drawing
wholly negative responses from those who think they know everything, and those
who have reasons beyond the group for never admitting to a mistake.

It is always problematic to "explain" why something is *not* true...in this
case why power is *not* an rms value. It is a core problem of atheism,
incidentally.

Consequently newcomers to the art, only too fearful that they are prone to
misconception, daren't raise their hands or open their mouths.

A particularly bad trait, IMO, is to demand that everyone should "learn the
basics" before asking a question or attempting a contribution. That's
protectionism, not education.

I'm here for recreation and have nothing to lose. I can be as slack as I wish
for my purposes. I get a kick out of raising issues and stirring up
educational debate. I get no kick from giving "explanations".

I have made many good things, and taught many people who have later made good
use of they learned, with my guidance, by themselves, because I didn't explain
much then either.

Much more interesting to leap from revelation to revelation, and then to
characterise in retrospect what has become obvious.

I'm a prophet not a dictionary. Don't kill the Spirit.

cheers, Ian

(1)"Should anyone ask me the meaning of good, I would say that good is good,
and let that be the end of the matter." G.E.Moore, in interview for a
philosophy fellowship at Oxford...IIRC

(2) Here as much as anywhere else.