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Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:16 pm
by _Quasimodo
In September, Cern scientists announced that they had clocked the speed of test neutrinos at faster than the speed of light. Recent experiments to check the validity of the findings have confirmed their tests.
The solid base of physics that explains how everything works has been based on Einstein's postulation that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. This changes EVERYTHING. Especially the nature of time (if such a thing really exists).
Here's an article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15791236
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:10 pm
by _OzPoof
I always had a problem with Einstein's "equal and opposite reaction". A force that is reacted to equally and oppositely will not produce anything. It can't move.
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:43 pm
by _Quasimodo
OzPoof wrote:I always had a problem with Einstein's "equal and opposite reaction". A force that is reacted to equally and oppositely will not produce anything. It can't move.
I think that was Newton and I don't think that's what he meant.
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:37 pm
by _Morley
Quasimodo wrote:In September, Cern scientists announced that they had clocked the speed of test neutrinos at faster than the speed of light. Recent experiments to check the validity of the findings have confirmed their tests.
The solid base of physics that explains how everything works has been based on Einstein's postulation that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. This changes EVERYTHING. Especially the nature of time (if such a thing really exists).
Here's an article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15791236
Thanks for this, Quasi. I think this is awesome.
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:44 pm
by _Quasimodo
Morley wrote:
Thanks for this, Quasi. I think this is awesome.
My pleasure, Morley! If it's reconfirmed by an independent lab, it is truly "awesome". Our understanding of the entire universe will be altered. Who knows what will be possible?
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:38 pm
by _MsJack
Quasimodo wrote:My pleasure, Morley! If it's reconfirmed by an independent lab, it is truly "awesome". Our understanding of the entire universe will be altered. Who knows what will be possible?
I have no idea.
But I can't wait to hear some banter between Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter about this on
Big Bang Theory.

EDIT: I mean, they got
Neil deGrasse Tyson on there to poke fun at recent scientific developments . . .
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:50 pm
by _Imnotwashingmypirate
Einstein's equal and opposite reaction lol. You might be on to something there.
I think it's silly that so many people insist on being close minded. I never once became convinced that the speed of particles was limited by Einstein's postulates and essentially Lorentz equations. My primary reason for this response is simple, we do not have even a fraction of full knowledge to come up with such limitations. I think it is likely that at some point down the line we will discover a new theory that builds on QP that is more complex and controls a higher level. QP looks at objects that are quantised on a sub atomic scale, but I don't think it is suffice enough to go beyond quark level and I am quite sure there is a lot more that constructs the everything we live in far beyond our dimension of ability.
The only reason particles theoretically cannot go faster than the speed of light is because the speed of light is a variable in the equations it'self. Look at tan in trigonometry and how it shoots off to infinity, that is essentially what happens when you divide a numerator by zero, who's to say that is not a natural phenomenon in QM and that in fact, in other dimensions light in a vacuum might travel faster. We do not know that there are not other forces at work here, forces that are beyond our senses and responses that have effects on everything.
Why should the speed of light be a constant? Who decided on that speed? Isn't it peculiar that light travels at that speed and look at time dilation, doesn't it all seem to be hiding something more meaningful?
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:56 pm
by _Imnotwashingmypirate
P.s. the entire universe won't be altered. It will be exactly the same. And we will still use the same theory and maths as always because it works experimentally. The only difference is, it wont explain the phenomena beyond the boundaries that it works in. Exactly like when they discovered Classical theory doesn't cover all the grounds. We still use classical theory in many cases, even in cases that it does not fully apply because it can give a guideline answer to some more complex questions. Just like quantum will in the future only provide an estimate to some of the grander questions that will be even more complex to answer. I can't wait for the new grande theory, I hope it happens in my lifetime. Isn't it wonderful?
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:01 pm
by _Ceeboo
Local community college- first semester drop out (That's me) offers the following:
The speed of light is a distance, not a speed.
Peace,
Ceeboo
Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:16 pm
by _Imnotwashingmypirate
You what??? The clue is in the name and in the value... 3x10^8 m/s
meters per second = distance / time = ??? speed!!
Light year is a distance speed is a speed.