ABHORRENCE

You have to be a certain age to understand this cartoon.  Those of us brought up with an old-fashioned, traditional education will all recognise the final phrase - even those who didn't like science lessons!  It was just one of those phrases that everyone picked up even if they didn't actually understand the concept.

Can you explain what the phrase means?  

If you can, well remembered!  Go to the top of the class!  

But lets get more up-to-date; can you explain why the phrase is no longer used by physics teachers?  

Its not just a matter of modern English - there are real scientific objections to the phrase...

Feel free to enlighten Mr. Kirby, who placed this cartoon on his office door, only aware of the literary significant and blissfully unaware of the physics...

International School of Toulouse, Colomiers, France, 10/12/2004