Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why 1 Second Is 1 Second
Discovery Magazine ^ | 18 Jan, 2017 | Nathaniel Scharping

Posted on 01/19/2018 10:32:02 AM PST by MtnClimber

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last
To: reformedliberal

I talked with a guy (a physics research professor) a few years back on the subject of there being a very fine deviation in radioactive decay constants (which would have significant ramifications in the theoretical sense at the least). The thinking was that it was linked to the sun and possible variances in something like solar neutrino output.


21 posted on 01/19/2018 11:01:00 AM PST by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

The Hebrew calendar uses lunar cycles for months, but adds ‘leap months’ to keep it in sync with the solar year.


22 posted on 01/19/2018 11:04:15 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

A “day” is the earth spinning on it’s axis and begins when the sun is opposite your location on the planet which is midnight. Noon is when the sun is directly above your meridian of longitude as the earth continues its spin the time is after noon or PM “post(your)meridian.
A “day” begins and ends at night.
It takes ~365.25 days to orbit the sun currently so that is a year. We add one full day every 4th year (leap year is in 2020) to the month of February to correct for that 0.25 day otherwise the seasons would drift out of the winter, spring, summer and fall alignment with certain months.


23 posted on 01/19/2018 11:04:57 AM PST by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: reformedliberal
"Does this mean a second measured by atomic cycling in radioactive elements will be the same on any planet, in any galaxy...?"

No! and not because we compare it to earths rotation. At different temperatures and pressures the atomic vibrations change. At absolute 0 there are no vibrations and an atomic clock is useless.

24 posted on 01/19/2018 11:09:02 AM PST by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

All measurements should mimic the decimal system. One hundred seconds in a minute, 100 minutes in an hour, 10 hours in a day. Go to the metric system also. Our current measurement system is nuts!!!


25 posted on 01/19/2018 11:09:47 AM PST by DennisR
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: outofsalt

That does not answer the question, “WHY are there 24 hours in a day?”..................


26 posted on 01/19/2018 11:11:41 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Ask Einstein about the effect of gravity on time. There is no absolute measure of time. Or anything.


27 posted on 01/19/2018 11:14:09 AM PST by I want the USA back (Lying Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: z3n

Julius Cesar dumped the lunar calendar for a solar one but Pope Gregory the XIII changed it to reflect the birth of Christ (sort of). We are using the Gregorian calendar as of October 1552. Other cultures use other calendars.


28 posted on 01/19/2018 11:15:54 AM PST by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I think the math goes back to some point in history. I never read up on this.

There are 360 degrees in a circle. I think that’s because of the year being close to 360

24 hours in a day
60 minutes
60 seconds

All of these are factors of 12


29 posted on 01/19/2018 11:17:25 AM PST by z3n
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: z3n

Here’s a hint:

Ancient Egypt.........................


30 posted on 01/19/2018 11:18:58 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Little known fact:

Originally, February was decreed as Diet Month. An opportunity to prepare for swimsuit season and shed some winter pounds. A vote was taken by the Time Lords and it was unanimous to not add anymore days to February than necessary for fear of upsetting the women of the realm.

Thus February remains the only month with a mere 28 days.


31 posted on 01/19/2018 11:20:24 AM PST by Hatteras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: reformedliberal

If the clock moved at near-light speed, the cycling between the two energy states and thus measurement of seconds would be slower, as judged by a stationary observer


32 posted on 01/19/2018 11:21:13 AM PST by I-ambush (If we make it, we'll all sit back and laugh, but I fear tomorrow I'll be crying)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: IronJack

Sounds like something they would have, and probably did, tried to change during the French Revolution.

It is also of interest why Sept, Oct, Nov, and December are named the seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth months while actually ranking 9 10, 11, and 12.


33 posted on 01/19/2018 11:22:18 AM PST by sparklite2 (See more at Sparklite Times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Hatteras

Shouldn’t it be named after Kronos?


34 posted on 01/19/2018 11:23:46 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

A better question: Why did 2008-to-2016 seem like an eternity?


35 posted on 01/19/2018 11:25:42 AM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DennisR

“10 hours in a day”

On which planet?

And then, how many hours of sleep does the human body require each “day”?


36 posted on 01/19/2018 11:37:47 AM PST by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: IronJack

How about 13 28-day months with one or two days of New Year celebrations?


37 posted on 01/19/2018 11:39:52 AM PST by who_would_fardels_bear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: DennisR
"If you give them a centimeter, they'll take a kilometer."

"He wants his kilogram of flesh."

No. It just doesn't work for me.

38 posted on 01/19/2018 11:44:19 AM PST by who_would_fardels_bear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: reformedliberal

Yes, proximity to a gravitating mass.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation


39 posted on 01/19/2018 11:50:08 AM PST by RitchieAprile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
That does not answer the question, “WHY are there 24 hours in a day?”..................

Because after 24 hours, it's tomorrow...

40 posted on 01/19/2018 11:55:21 AM PST by Iscool
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson