Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaths
Calling All Science Nerds Page 7
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 6 2009, 6:57 PM BSTIt's regarding the speed of light. Now, according to the two models of the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.
Now, say that our Sun suddenly vanished out of existence, just like that. (This is obviously a hypothetical!) OK, so due to the limitations on the speed of light in a vacuum, it would take us on Earth something like 8-9 minutes to notice that the Sun had disappeared due to the time taken for the light to travel to us.
Right, but according to quantum theory and gravitational theory, as soon as the Sun vanished we would instantenously notice the gravitational effects of the Sun disappearing. Now, that would mean than gravitational "information" travels faster than the speed of light. How can this be?
Good question but the answer is likely to be at least as much of a head-f**k as the question.
According to my understanding of the theories and given that we don't actually know what gravity is, there are various possibilities.
1) The gravitational waves would continue spreading out at lightspeed and we'd notice their lack 8 minutes later.
2) Gravity is propagated through a higher dimension - so if it's travelling outside our 3 dimensions it could appear to be moving faster than light without actually breaking any laws of physics (much like popping through hyperspace in a spaceship).
3) It's not 'travelling' as you mean it - which would imply that it would reach us before it reached, say, Jupiter. If the lack of gravity from the sun is instantly felt everywhere, then the effect is not travelling, it just 'is'. So yes, the 'information' is travelling faster than light but it is not an actual thing which is moving through spacetime as the lightwaves do. Look up 'quantum entanglement' to see how something like this might be possible without breaking the laws of physics.
It's important to note for number 3 that there would be no way of telling if this 'information' reached Jupiter at the same time it reached Earth without that knowledge being transmitted back in some way which was still limited to the speed of light so it would be entirely academic as to whether your 'information' travelled fatser than light or not.
Good answer(s). My brain hurts slightly less now. I also have a major problem that unrelated particles (such as electrons) can instantaneously exchange "information", e.g. direction of spin at remote distances. I suppose this must mathematically be explained by string theory, but the implications are effectively that a particle, say, on Mars, has the potential to be "attached" to a particle on Earth. My brain really hurts again. 
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 2:21 PM BSTMy brain really hurts again.
I don't believe you. I think you secretly thrive off this level of brain stimulation Mr Walker. Don't you my boy! Come on, Don't you! Say it! Say it man!
Maybe. Saying that I took a break from writing at about 2am this morning to watch videos on YouTube that attempt to prove that no planes flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11. Now I don't know what's reasonable and what isn't anymore.
Maybe Mr Candy can show you the way, eh Mr walker! 
Huh?
Who, the late John Candy?
Oh go on act like you don't know... 
That'll be quite easy as I really don't.
(I'm not quite the towering intellectual genius that most of you assume I am.)
Bugger!
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 6:32 PM BST(I'm not quite the towering intellectual genius that most of you assume I am.)
This is me waving at you as they put you in the ambulance. Nice pyjamas by the way.
They're taking me to pick up my Nobel Prize. And thanks, Mummy bought these pyjamas especially for the ceremony, as I'm her big, clever boy!
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 6:24 PM BSTMaybe. Saying that I took a break from writing at about 2am this morning to watch videos on YouTube that attempt to prove that no planes flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11. Now I don't know what's reasonable and what isn't anymore.
I'm pretty sure they did. I love people who come up with conspiracy theories- I heard a great one the other day, that Cliff Richard is not really gay.
Did that rumour emanate from the same people who claimed Bob Monkhouse was really the love child of a Brazilian Monkey f**k** and a Marmoset?
The term "conspiracy theory" is a bit of a misnomer though. I mean, the official explanation is an actual conspiracy theory itself, isn't it? That 19 hijackers colluded to hijack and crash aeroplanes under orders from Osama bin Laden. By definition two or more people acting together in secret to commit an act is a conspiracy, isn't it?
Anyway, anyone know what the cause of that massive explosion in the sky over Ireland last Thursday night was due to?