Units of Weight, Mass, and Force

Abstract

YOUR reviewer, of the well-known initials “P. G. T.,” has taken exception to some of the terminology employed by Mr. Anderson in his book “On the Conversion of Heat into Work,” particularly to the expressions of “pounds on the square inch” and “tons on the square inch,” which he says would define a superficial density if used in their proper sense; and it is this opinion I wish, with your permission, to dispute, as I think “P. G. T.” and mathematicians generally, are at present in this endeavour to avoid one ambiguity in dynamical language only creating greater confusion.