Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Zero Sum; Fichori; betty boop; TXnMA
To the extent that these might affect the apparent motion of the Sun as viewed from the Earth at all, the effect is negligible compared to the apparent motion of the Sun due to the Earth's rotation. For the purposes of our thought experiment, we can consider the Sun to be stationary WRT an inertial frame.

Newtonian physics works quite nicely within our solar system, but when we examine the universe, Special and General Relativity are necessary. Ditto at the quantum level, Quantum Mechanics or Quantum Field Theory is necessary.

IOW, one may postulate the Sun as a hypothetically stationary object for his thought experiment and the math will work. He may transform coordinates.

But CMB measurements from the 1960's forward confirm that the Sun is not stationary. Nothing in the universe is stationary. Space/time itself is expanding.

771 posted on 06/14/2009 10:16:17 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 766 | View Replies ]


To: Alamo-Girl; Zero Sum; Fichori; TXnMA; logos; CottShop; metmom; hosepipe; xzins
...one may postulate the Sun as a hypothetically stationary object for his thought experiment....

But Zero Sum's postulation would not "entail" that the Sun must "agree" to stand still, so to accommodate his/her thought experiment.

So what's the point of the thought experiment?

As it stands, it has no "stationary object," no anchor or criterion according to which its phenomena can be compared and judged. JMHO FWIW

772 posted on 06/15/2009 12:44:16 AM PDT by betty boop (Tyranny is always whimsical. — Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 771 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


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