The BBC and technical accuracy
I am an ancient multi-disciplined engineer and have worked in a number of areas including tool making, railway signalling, Controls and instrumentation and latterly what we call the defence industry
I never studied for a degree but undertook whatever studies I considered relevant to my work even including a diploma in industrial management (The early examined and man hours of hands-on variety) I have also inadvertently exploded, incinerated or otherwise destroyed much in my quest for knowledge and experience.
I had occasion to arise at 05:00 this morning for a trip and watched the BBC/OU program on Magnetism while eating my breakfast. They were explaining the magnetic field around a coil carrying current. The flux was shown in two dimensions which I suppose is adequate but to my horror the two circles indicating the path and direction of the field were arrowed in opposition. My albeit limited knowledge of modern teaching and testing tells me that many students could pass through into what industry we have left with a totally wrong conception of electromagnetism. Doesn't anyone of consequence watch these programs before they are transmitted?
Regards
Ken Simmonds (Disgusted of Herts)
PS Cracking magazine but just having returned to work on a part time basis after a couple of years of retirement, I am disappointed as to how few young design engineers take it.