Physics Game Changer (big time)

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_Ceeboo
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Ceeboo »

Hey pirate,

Clearly, I am way over my pay grade here, but just wanted to post in this thread because the aroma of turkey cooking makes me feel smart.

Imnotwashingmypirate wrote: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.


Perhaps we are saying the same thing? (Perhaps not?)

I recall reading an article (I believe it was a group of scientists at Cal Berkley- if interested or simply curious, maybe I can dig up the link/source) where they were able to alter, change.... slow down- the speed of light. If this "speed of light" distance is not a constant, then..............?.


Peace,
Ceeboo
_Imnotwashingmypirate
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Imnotwashingmypirate »

Ceeboo wrote:Hey pirate,

Clearly, I am way over my pay grade here, but just wanted to post in this thread because the aroma of turkey cooking makes me feel smart.



Perhaps we are saying the same thing? (Perhaps not?)


I recall reading an article (I believe it was a group of scientists at Cal Berkley- if interested or simply curious, maybe I can dig up the link/source) where they were able to alter, change.... slow down- the speed of light. If this "speed of light" distance is not a constant, then..............?.


Peace,
Ceeboo


Not saying the same thing. You said speed of light is a distance. I'm saying no it's not, it is a speed.

Speed of light varies in different media. I was referring to speed of light in a vacuum or in space. Apologies for not being more specific.

they were able to alter, change.... slow down- the speed of light. If this "speed of light" distance


If you are correct in saying speed of light is a distance, then how can a distance slow down? the term slow down insinuates time which by definition sugests change in time and therefore leeds to the conclusion that one is looking at a speed or velocity. Distance doesn't relate to time unless movement of distance is involved. Like in calculus, dx/dt = speed which is the exact same thing as distance over time. a change in distance cannot occur with a change in time being zero It may be possible to say it is very close to zero, but not actually zero. So the speed of light is a speed which is like when you drive your car at 30 miles per hour, the light travels at 3x10^8 meters per second in a vacuum. In 1 second light travels 3x10^8 meters.
_Ceeboo
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Ceeboo »

Hey again, pirate.
Imnotwashingmypirate wrote:
If you are correct in saying speed of light is a distance, then how can a distance slow down?

[


If the Planet "Turkey-breath" is 10 light years away- Is that a measured distance away? (I think it is). Or is it a speed at which the light travels to arrive at the planet "Turkey-breath?"

A distance can not slow down,,,it is a distance (Perhaps the "speed" of light can. Thus suggesting that it may not be a constant?) which is why I suggest that these are distances.

Peace,
Ceeboo
_Imnotwashingmypirate
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Imnotwashingmypirate »

Ceeboo wrote:Hey again, pirate.
Imnotwashingmypirate wrote:
If you are correct in saying speed of light is a distance, then how can a distance slow down?

[


If the Planet "Turkey-breath" is 10 light years away- Is that a measured distance away? (I think it is). Or is it a speed at which the light travels to arrive at the planet "Turkey-breath?"

A distance can not slow down,,,it is a distance (Perhaps the "speed" of light can. Thus suggesting that it may not be a constant?) which is why I suggest that these are distances.

Peace,
Ceeboo




Noooo Ceeboo NO... I am a Physicist. I've studied Physics for 5 years. Speed of light is a speed. Light years is a distance. 1 light year is the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1 year. Which is about 6 trillion miles.

miles = distance meters per second = speed

If speed of light is a distance as you are saying then it cannot slow down just like distance can not slow down. However speed of light is not a distance! Therefore speed of light can indeed slow down because it is a speed.

If you are ever confused, look at the units. Or google :P

The discussion in this thread is based on Einstein's postulate that the maximum speed any object can travel can be no greater than the speed of light in a vacuum... I will explain this in more detail...
_Ceeboo
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Ceeboo »

Imnotwashingmypirate wrote:


Noooo Ceeboo NO... I am a Physicist. I've studied Physics for 5 years. Speed of light is a speed. Light years is a distance. 1 light year is the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1 year. Which is about 6 trillion miles.

miles = distance meters per second = speed

If speed of light is a distance as you are saying then it cannot slow down just like distance can not slow down. However speed of light is not a distance! Therefore speed of light can indeed slow down because it is a speed.

If you are ever confused, look at the units. Or google :P

The discussion in this thread is based on Einstein's postulate that the maximum speed any object can travel can be no greater than the speed of light in a vacuum... I will explain this in more detail...



After this contribution, I think you are right, (I stand, humbly, corrected) Thanks!

Note to self: The smell of cooking turkey does not make you smarter, it just makes you hungry. :)


Peace,
Ceeboo
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Imnotwashingmypirate »

I'm scared to even go into Special Relativity cos it might screw your head right over.

Image

In this equation, v is the velocity of a particle and c is the speed of light.

If you get your calculator out and you do any number divided by zero you get an error. Try it and see. The key component of this equation is v^2/c^2 and as v becomes larger than c problems occur with the theory.

Also, if you do a large number divided by a smaller number, you get a number greater than 1. And when you subtract a number greater than 1 from 1, you get a negative number and when you take the square root of a negative number, you land yourself in all sorts of bother, and also your calculator doesn't like it. Which is why according to Lorentz and Einstein no particle can travel faster than the speed of light.


When you plug values into this that suggest v is greater than c you see that according to the theory of special relativity, this is quite impossible. However, for all values where v is less than c this theory is absolutely fine. A bit like Classical Mechanics is fine is the macroscale world but when we go down to atomic scale, Classical mechanics struggles to explain such phenomena and likewise, when you go beyond the constraints of Quantum Mechanics, this also struggles to explain such phenomena.

So with my argument, there is no need to completely discard our current understanding of the universe, but rather, enhance our understanding and find a model that fits outside of the classical and quantum regions of theory and understanding.
Last edited by Guest on Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
_Imnotwashingmypirate
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Imnotwashingmypirate »

Oh my gosh turkey. Im so hungry. It is more like the smell of turkey and being hungry makes one only think of eating hehe. Light is a complicated being and is very difficult to grasp even for a Physicist. Thank God I'm not a theoretical Physicist otherwise no one would understand me lol.
_Ceeboo
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Ceeboo »

Imnotwashingmypirate wrote:I'm scared to even go into Special Relativity cos it might screw your head right over.


Don't be scared, just be sure that it has.

Image



Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat is THAT? LOL :)


Peace and Happy Thanksgiving, pirate.
Ceeboo
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Imnotwashingmypirate »

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.



In newtonian mechanics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

"Whatever draws or presses another is as much drawn or pressed by that other. If you press a stone with your finger, the finger is also pressed by the stone." -- Wikipedia

So I suppose like contact force.

No dilemma here... really?

Image
_Imnotwashingmypirate
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Re: Physics Game Changer (big time)

Post by _Imnotwashingmypirate »

Ceeboo wrote:
Imnotwashingmypirate wrote:I'm scared to even go into Special Relativity cos it might screw your head right over.


Don't be scared, just be sure that it has.

Image



Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat is THAT? LOL :)


Peace and Happy Thanksgiving, pirate.
Ceeboo



Happy Thanksgiving.
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