Infamous Definitions snub Electricity's Honorable Erg

Even scientists occasionally take time off to make fun of themselves. At least that's the impression Charles W. Ufford, Physics B lecturer gave his classes yesterday.

At the end of the hour, Ufford surprised the students by announcing that the author of the Physics B textbook, Professor John A. Eldredge of Iowa University, had sent him a list of definitions. A groan from the audience followed.

But the expressions of disapproval soon turned into laughter when some of the "definitions" were flashed on the screen. "Cosine is the opposite of stop sign. An erg is an urge. A millimeter is a bug with a large number of legs." Many members of the class were heard to say when leaving that some of Ufford's experiments were infinitely more amusing, recalling the time to whipped out an umbrella from behind the table to shield himself during one of the wetter ones.