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To: Capitalism2003
LOL I haven't been in Physics in ten years. It looks right, but I can't speak for the constant. It's essentially G * m1 * m2/r^2, but I don't remember what G is (we usually just looked it up).

In the case of bending light, however, the classical calculation really isn't the point. We're really talking about general relativity. Mass bends spacetime. The light is still moving in a straight line, it's just that spacetime becomes curved in the vicinity of an object with mass. If light passes by an electron-positron pair (or any other pair) of virtual particles that arose from spacetime's "frothiness", the mass of the particle pair will warp space and cause the light's trajectory to change.

Of course, we're talking about "virtual" particles. No one ever really explained this to me satisfactorily, but my impression is that it means that space is curved ("frothy") in such a way that it has the same effect as if there were particles with mass present. Of course, I could be totally off base there...
118 posted on 03/28/2003 9:20:34 PM PST by Windcatcher ("So what did Doug use?" "He used...sarcasm!")
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To: Windcatcher
I think this stuff is amazing...space being bent..time being relative...makes my brain hurt...that's why I like it.
You sound like you know stuff about physics.
Hypothetical Question: If someone were to construct a perfect cube container...absolutely symmetrical on each side...and if someone were to construct this box with perfectly polished mirrors are placed on the inner sides...and a flash bulb was inserted into the box...the lid (also a mirror) firmly closed...then *POOF*
The bulb flashes...
Question: What happens to the light? Does it keep bouncing around off the symmetrical mirrors forever? It has no means of escaping the box. Where else can it possibly go?
Wouldn't this create an everlasting light source? :)


I got this idea a few months ago...I think if someone could make one of these boxes with two sided mirrors..ya know, the kind you can see through on one side, with a normal mirror on the other side...If someone can make the cube out of this stuff and flash the light from the inside...wouldn't it be an infinite light source?
Sure, it would probably cost a few thousand to make each cube, but after the initial flash...No electric bills...EVER!;) Can I patent the idea? I may get to it someday..
128 posted on 03/28/2003 9:38:07 PM PST by Capitalism2003
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