We all live with misconceptions about the world. This is quite normal. No one can be an expert in everything, so we simplify our learning into easy-to-remember snippets, which are often very close to the truth, but never quite there.
Generally, our misconceptions are insignificant and do little harm. Some times they are very significant and do a lot of harm.
For example, many people believe that when they leave home in winter, they shouldn't turn off the heat entirely, but rather lower it a few degrees. If they normally maintain a temperature of 20°C (68°F) when at home, when they leave they should turn the thermostat down to about 15°C (59°F). Why? Because they insist that letting the house get very cold when they are away, and then heating it up again when they return, uses up significantly more energy than keeping it at a moderate temperature throughout the day.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Common misconceptions: Things we know that just aren't so | ScienceBlog.com
Author: Philip Yaffe
