Units of measure (Was: discrete transistors - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

20 Oct 1998

...
   silliness of
the phrase "partial vacuum" repeatedly...  I'll completely
 leave out the concept of "vacuum leak"!)  
 Oh, I've been known to say 'That valve (tube) is white round the top.
 Somebody has let the vacuum out'

 Seems like quite a reasonable way of putting it :-)

 Try explaining how important a tight vacuum system on a mass spectrometer is
...
  to some PHD chemists.  Not to mention how to find the
leaks.  It is amazing
...
  how little they teach in "leading" colleges
today.  Definately NO common
 sense.  So often all the problem consists of is the last thing they worked
...
  on but did that enter their mind?
 Dan

I'm 15 years old, and even I know that a leaky tube [in a radio] reduces
the sound quality, the loudness (depending if it's an amp tube or not),
reduces the life of the tube, possibly can cause a short in the tube, and
can possibly weaken other components.  a leaky tube in a TV will
occasionally cause a bad (or no) picture.

I think the only reason that I know this is that I collect antique radios. 
maybe I'm just odd...
--       
         -Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
   ICQ#-1730318