DavidR, Phases are nothing more than comparing multiple electrical waves with respect to time. So assuming two waves, if they both peak at the same time, they're said to be "in" phase, or 0 degrees "out of phase". When the power company creates power, they do exactly what you suggest, and put the windings 120 degrees apart, and deliver 3 phases of power. That's why if you look at overhead transmission lines, they're always in groups of three. However, that's not the only way to create a phase difference. As Brickeyee pointed out, single phase motors use capacitors to start (and sometimes run) the motors. What they're doing with the capacitors is creating a second phase. Residential US power comes from a single phase which is delivered to the house via a center-tap transformer. By definition, the two hot legs are 180 degrees out of phase with each other. By convention, though, we don't call this 2-phase, because at one time, power was delivered as 90-degree out of phase, and was called 2-phase. (I'm not sure if this still exists anywhere). One thing that you might find interesting is that the fans on many computers and audio equipment are 3-phase to both prolong their lives, and to make them quieter. All it takes is a little bit of electronics to transform single phase into multiphase power.

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

Sorry guys - I deleted my comment within a minute or two because I realized that my post made no sense. I couldn't see the OP because it was unanswered and on the second page. When I posted, it popped up to the top and then I saw it. Sorry for the confusion.

I was using the term 'assistant' in a general sense. I didn't get a look at her badge, and she didn't introduce herself, except to say that she needed to ask some questions. If I'd known she was a PA, I'd have identified her as such in the OP. I wouldn't call her a receptionist--to me a receptionist is the person behind the desk, taking my name (and money), and scheduling appointments. It doesn't matter to me if she's an actual PA, or a nurse, or a NA who was just hired yesterday--if she works in a physician's office she should know basic medical terminology, and should be able to read the words on a sheet of paper. I used to work in an office in the same hospital complex, and before I was hired I was given a basic medical terminology test. My husband taught medical terminology, as well as courses in his chosen field, in the allied health program at our local college. As I mentioned, FIL was a medic and EMT. MIL was an RN. My sister-in-law is a nurse prac, and my son is a paramedic. Maybe being around folks in the medical field has made me more aware of minor mistakes, but colonoscopy is a very common term. Since we're speaking of colonoscopies, everyone, please make sure you have your screenings. I had mine in July--not fun, but now I can relax for a few years.