Re: Relativity [was incorrectly: Quantum Mechanics]
Derek C Murphy (dmurphy@extro.ucc.su.oz.au)
Mon, 27 May 1996 03:19:30 +1000
>Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 03:17:38 +1000
>To: Steve VanDevender <stevev@efn.org>
>From: Derek C Murphy <dmurphy@extro.ucc.su.oz.au>
>Subject: Re: Relativity [was incorrectly: Quantum Mechanics]
>
>At 00:55 25/05/96 -0700, you wrote:
>>Mike Wangsmo writes:
>> > Since this really has *nothing* to do with Linux, maybe we should
>> > find an alternative list for this thread?? Any ideas there?
>>
>>There must be a "bad-physics" mailing list out there somewhere.
>>
>> > A beam of light that travels from a point on the edge of the outer
>> > diameter of the base of the cone through the center is affected so
>> > strongly by the massive gravity that it is slowed dramatically as it
>> > finally escapes the forces of attraction from gravity. However an
>> > object that travels around the base of the cone (thus avoiding the
>> > massive gravity) has no noticable reduction in velocity due to
>> > gravity. In essence according to Einsein's theories, the object
>> > could travel at say 99.9% of speed of light (as measured on Earth)
>> > and reach the far side of the base of the cone before the light beam
>> > that left the same place and at the same time.
>>
>>Light doesn't speed up or slow down when it passes through a
>>gravitational field. It may gain energy or lose energy or change
>>direction, but it doesn't change speed. You can arrange to emit two
>>photons in different directions from the same point and have them both
>>pass through another point at different times by having one pass through
>>a region of greater spacetime curvature, but that doesn't mean one
>>photon traveled faster than the other -- it means one traveled farther
>>than the other. Both traveled at the same speed, and all observers will
>>measure the same speed for both photons.
>
>Wrong. The speed of light is affected by the medium it travels through.
Ever heard of refraction. ;-)
>
>>You need to read and understand a good book on relativity theory. I
>>suggest _Spacetime Physics_ by Taylor and Wheeler for an introduction.
>>If you are then able to understand _Gravitation_ by Misner, Thorne, and
>>Wheeler you will be doing better than I am.
>>
>>
>>
>
+------------------------------+
| Mr Derek Cunninghamme Murphy |
| dmurphy@extro.ucc.su.oz.au |
| Ph: +61 (0412) 008-444 |
| Fax: +61 (02) 737-8445 |
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