Speed of Light (Earth, science, Roman)

SoyLeche · #1 08-20-2005, 08:30 PM

http://www.scienceblog.com/light.html

Looks like the physics books need to be updated.

Mr Spinkles · #2 08-20-2005, 11:34 PM

I'd like to see another source for this. The constancy of the speed of light has been a fundamental law since the late 19th century, and if it's not constant it seems to me that it would have dramatic consequences on such well-established theories as Einstein's relativity. At the homepage of scienceblog.com, it says anyone can sign up and post their own blog for free, so...I think we should check for other sources which can confirm this.

Cynic · #3 08-20-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

I'd like to see another source for this. The constancy of the speed of light has been a fundamental law since the late 19th century, and if it's not constant it seems to me that it would have dramatic consequences on such well-established theories as Einstein's relativity. At the homepage of scienceblog.com, it says anyone can sign up and post their own blog for free, so...I think we should check for other sources which can confirm this.

I just had an email forwarded to me called "Mars Spectacular", and after reading it, I immediately knew it was bunk:

Quote:

June 13, 2005

Quote:

MARS SPECTACULAR!

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is

catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest

approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars

may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on

Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars

has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be

as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th, 2005, when Mars comes to within

34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest

object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will

appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be

easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at

10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August 2005 when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at

nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's

pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in

recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to

see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL

EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Susan Walker

WebWalker Design Systems

7212 W Libby St, GlendaleAZ85308-8140

tel: 602.843.4049

email: susan@webwalkerdesign.com

website: www.WebWalkerDesign.com

If you notice, this person has given all her contact info. It's a really effective and cheap way to advertise a business.
There's a lot of misinformation that circulates through the internet, and unfortunately, most people do not check the credibility of such information.

Mr Spinkles · #4 08-21-2005, 12:19 AM

Cynic-- I got the same email, and although it is bunk, it is true that Mars has been much closer to Earth (and therefore much brighter in the sky) this month than it has been in a long time.

It's amazing how convincing some of this stuff sounds when you're ignorant of the subject being discussed....if I hadn't just taken a physics course in which we learned why the speed of light must be constant and what evidence there is for it, and how it is the basis for so many other theories, I might have been swindled by the link in the OP.

Cynic · #5 08-21-2005, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

Cynic-- I got the same email, and although it is bunk, it is true that Mars has been much closer to Earth (and therefore much brighter in the sky) this month than it has been in a long time.

When, since 2003?

Terrywoodenpic · #6 08-21-2005, 08:06 AM

I have my doubts about this. I would like to see som verification.

Terry
__________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

Ori · #7 08-21-2005, 08:08 AM

That looks like a load of old poo.

Seyorni · #8 08-21-2005, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoyLeche

http://www.scienceblog.com/light.html

Looks like the physics books need to be updated.

Well of course they need to be updated. How often do you see a new edition of a science book without updates?

We're not talking about religious works, after all.

michel · #9 08-21-2005, 08:27 AM

Well, I have managed to find someone else who thinks it is possible, not only that but it was achieved in 2002!........
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2796

Speed of light broken with basic lab kit
10:03 16 September 2002
NewScientist.com news service
Charles Choi
Electric signals can be transmitted at least four times faster than the speed of light using only basic equipment that would be found in virtually any college science department.

Scientists have sent light signals at faster-than-light speeds over the distances of a few metres for the last two decades - but only with the aid of complicated, expensive equipment. Now physicists at Middle Tennessee State University have broken that speed limit over distances of nearly 12