英语翻译

6."Takethebarometertothetopofthebuildingandleanovertheedgeoftheroof.Dropthebarometer,timingitsfallwithastopwatch.Then,usingtheformulaS=½at2,calculatetheheightofthebuilding."

7.Atthispoint,Iaskedmycolleagueifhewouldgiveup.Heconceded,andIgavethestudentalmostfullcredit.

8.Inleavingmycolleague'soffice,Irecalledthatthestudenthadsaidhehadotheranswerstotheproblem,soIaskedhimwhattheywere."Ohyes,"saidthestudent."Therearemanywaysofgettingtheheightofatallbuildingwiththeaidofabarometer.Forexample,youcouldtakethebarometeroutonasunnydayandmeasuretheheightofthebarometer,thelengthofitsshadow,andthelengthoftheshadowofthebuilding,andbytheuseofasimpleproportion,determinetheheightofthebuilding."

9."Fine,"Isaid."Andtheothers?"

10."Yes,"saidthestudent."Thereisaverymeasurementmethodthatyouwilllike.Inthismethod,youtakethebarometerandbegintowalkupthestairs.Asyouclimbthestairs,youmarkoffthelengthofthebarometeralongthewall.Youthencountthenumberofmarks,andthiswillgiveyoutheheightofthebuildinginbarometerunits.Averydirectmethod.

11."Ofcourse,ifyouwantamoresophisticatedmethod,youcantiethebarometertotheendofastring,swingitasapendulumanddeterminethevalueofgatthestreetlevelandatthetopofthebuilding.Fromthedifferencebetweenthetwovaluesofg,theheightofthebuildingcan,inprinciple,becalculated."

12.Finallyheconcluded,therearemanyotherwaysofsolvingtheproblem."Probablythebest,"hesaid,"istotakethebarometertothebasementandknockonthesuperintendent'sdoor.Whenthesuperintendentanswers,youspeaktohimasfollows:'Mr.Superintendent,hereIhaveafinebarometer.Ifyouwilltellmetheheightofthisbuilding,Iwillgiveyouthisbarometer.'"

13.Atthispoint,Iaskedthestudentifhereallydidnotknowtheconventionalanswertothisquestion.Headmittedthathedid,butsaidthathewasfedupwithhighschoolandcollegeinstructortryingtoteachhimhowtothink,tousethe"scientificmethod,"andtoexplorethedeepinnerlogicofthesubjectinapedanticway,asisoftendoneinthenewmathematics,ratherthant