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the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread
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Author:  Sabres2Sabres [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

Van_Da_Man wrote:
Sabres2Sabres wrote:
Few other things that I don't like in there. ;)

Quote:
Fact: We are moving through space at the rate of 530km a second

Our Galaxy – the Milky Way is spinning at a rate of 225 kilometers per second. In addition, the galaxy is travelling through space at the rate of 305 kilometers per second. This means that we are traveling at a total speed of 530 kilometers (330 miles) per second. That means that in one minute you are about 19 thousand kilometers away from where you were. Scientists do not all agree on the speed with which the Milky Way is travelling – estimates range from 130 – 1,000 km/s. It should be said that Einstein’s theory of relativity, the velocity of any object through space is not meaningful.


They finally get it right in the last sentence - which itself shows their entire passage means nothing. They are giving you speeds without any reference point - all of those bodies are traveling at that speed relative to what?

Quote:
Fact: Earth has at least 4 moons

Okay – that is not actually true – but it is very close.


No, it's nowhere close to true. Their following passage is completely valid, but nobody in their right minds would even relate these to moons. They don't orbit the earth.


Isn't the theory of relativity just an educated guess? Just because we can't figure out how to do something doesn't mean it's not possible.
Would a caveman just up and think one day "hey, i should make a gas powered vehicle so I can travel around?" I'm not saying we are cavemen, but in the grand scope of the universe, we can't be too terribly advanced.

Then again I could be totally wrong on this, seeing how I know less then most people on Einsteins theory.


Well, what that passage said is not even necessarily relativity, it's Galilean Invariance - the principle that in all inertial reference frames, the laws of physics apply equally. So all velocity is relative - we know this, it's a simple principle. Perceived velocity is different to observers in different inertial reference frames (moving at different velocities).

Thus we can only measure velocity relative to other objects. Numbers like they gave are meaningless - they are not relating it to any reference point.

This is not a theory, it's a principle.

Einstein's Theory of Relativity is not even a factor in this case...but you can expand these principles to include Special Relativity. Special Relativity goes on to state that the speed of light is the same regardless of inertial reference point, that regardless of your velocity, something traveling at the speed of light will appear that way to everyone.

This then describes things like time dilation and mass-energy equivalence (E=mc^2).

Now, yes, it's true that Einstein's Theory of Relativity is a theory (as so aptly named), but a theory is more than an educated guess. It is based on some observed phenomenon, and is testable. Einstein's theory has been experimentally verified in many different ways.

So while it's not directly provable, all of the evidence that we have points to it being true. It's widely accepted to be.

Author:  HelloMyKneeGrows [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

Did You Know: Kangaroos cannot walk backwards....

Author:  mechaphil [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

DID YOU KNOW: Elephants cannot jump?

Author:  HelloMyKneeGrows [ Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

mechaphil wrote:
DID YOU KNOW: Elephants cannot jump?


But they can fuckin swim for miles....

Can Elephants Swim Long Distances?

These strong animals can swim long distances without a problem. Experts suppose that elephants once swam from Southern India to Sri Lanka where they settled.

Author:  Van_Da_Man [ Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

Sabres2Sabres wrote:
Van_Da_Man wrote:
Sabres2Sabres wrote:
Few other things that I don't like in there. ;)

Quote:
Fact: We are moving through space at the rate of 530km a second

Our Galaxy – the Milky Way is spinning at a rate of 225 kilometers per second. In addition, the galaxy is travelling through space at the rate of 305 kilometers per second. This means that we are traveling at a total speed of 530 kilometers (330 miles) per second. That means that in one minute you are about 19 thousand kilometers away from where you were. Scientists do not all agree on the speed with which the Milky Way is travelling – estimates range from 130 – 1,000 km/s. It should be said that Einstein’s theory of relativity, the velocity of any object through space is not meaningful.


They finally get it right in the last sentence - which itself shows their entire passage means nothing. They are giving you speeds without any reference point - all of those bodies are traveling at that speed relative to what?

Quote:
Fact: Earth has at least 4 moons

Okay – that is not actually true – but it is very close.


No, it's nowhere close to true. Their following passage is completely valid, but nobody in their right minds would even relate these to moons. They don't orbit the earth.


Isn't the theory of relativity just an educated guess? Just because we can't figure out how to do something doesn't mean it's not possible.
Would a caveman just up and think one day "hey, i should make a gas powered vehicle so I can travel around?" I'm not saying we are cavemen, but in the grand scope of the universe, we can't be too terribly advanced.

Then again I could be totally wrong on this, seeing how I know less then most people on Einsteins theory.


Well, what that passage said is not even necessarily relativity, it's Galilean Invariance - the principle that in all inertial reference frames, the laws of physics apply equally. So all velocity is relative - we know this, it's a simple principle. Perceived velocity is different to observers in different inertial reference frames (moving at different velocities).

Thus we can only measure velocity relative to other objects. Numbers like they gave are meaningless - they are not relating it to any reference point.

This is not a theory, it's a principle.

Einstein's Theory of Relativity is not even a factor in this case...but you can expand these principles to include Special Relativity. Special Relativity goes on to state that the speed of light is the same regardless of inertial reference point, that regardless of your velocity, something traveling at the speed of light will appear that way to everyone.

This then describes things like time dilation and mass-energy equivalence (E=mc^2).

Now, yes, it's true that Einstein's Theory of Relativity is a theory (as so aptly named), but a theory is more than an educated guess. It is based on some observed phenomenon, and is testable. Einstein's theory has been experimentally verified in many different ways.

So while it's not directly provable, all of the evidence that we have points to it being true. It's widely accepted to be.


Ah, thanks for clarifying that I was wrong on the theory and the argument. ;)

Author:  Sneaky E [ Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

ironyisadeadscene wrote:
i saw bob dylan in 2005 when he toured the mid west league ball parks. he was.. uh.. really bad.


AGREED. I traveled to Rochester to see him a few years ago and it was pretty terrible. But hey, it's Bob Dylan! It's cool to have witnessed his chimney voice first hand!

To keep with the theme - Did you know that sneezes travel at about 100 MPH?

Author:  useful fictions [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: the "DID YOU KNOW?" thread

Sneaky E wrote:
ironyisadeadscene wrote:
i saw bob dylan in 2005 when he toured the mid west league ball parks. he was.. uh.. really bad.


AGREED. I traveled to Rochester to see him a few years ago and it was pretty terrible. But hey, it's Bob Dylan! It's cool to have witnessed his chimney voice first hand!


yeah. bob dylan is pretty awesome.


did you know that theodore roosevelt was the first president inaugurated into office outside of the then-current capital city? this also happened in buffalo, in case no one knew that.

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