Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: DocN on 11/02/2006 21:06:20

Title: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: DocN on 11/02/2006 21:06:20
I think that Einstein was a paper-pen theorist and needed help in complex math expression but would he, if alive, be using a computer?  I  think that the solutions to Einstein's equations are so complicated that using paper-pen methods would take decades to bring to solution.
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: upton on 11/02/2006 21:36:30
I can not imagine him not using a computer. I imagine all the great scientists of old, Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Copernicus etc etc would make great use of this tool.

I would love to see what Da Vinci could come up with on his computer, in fact. he'd probably redesign it and improve upon it.

~~~I can't think of a signature~~~
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: DocN on 12/02/2006 20:30:43
I think that's right.  I watched  a science show that indicated that Da Vinci may have been the first to discover or develope calculus.  His written work on calculus was discovered in s religious book that was covered over by some kind of scriptures.  But how interested was Einstein in finding solutions to his equations while in his day, such solutions were almost impossible to find because of the complex nature of the math used.
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: another_someone on 12/02/2006 23:04:00
I am not at all sure.

These were people who, while they were at the leading edge of thought in their time, they were people of their time, not of our time.

Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: DocN on 13/02/2006 16:37:12
I've studied relativity theories alone time but never considered if Einstein, himself--tried any solutions to his equations.  Einstein seemed to be against two such "solutions"--one dealing with the possibility of blackhole formations (Oppenheimer-Snyder paper) and the rotation of the universe (Godel's solution) which would have permitted time reversal.  The difficulty seems to be that relativity equations are written in such a way that they are independent of all coordinate systems.  And, as you indicate, each generation may select a coordinate system that is familiar just to them.  I feel another problem would be trying to compare these solutions to other theories and their solutions--trying to prove something without some "outside" correlation, would result in a dead end.
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: elegantlywasted on 14/02/2006 05:05:57
quote:
I would love to see what Da Vinci could come up with on his computer, in fact. he'd probably redesign it and improve upon it.



BILL GATES WHAT?
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: DocN on 14/02/2006 20:36:41
I've installed Ubuntu (free linux os) on my computer--LOVE it!!!!
Doc
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: neilep on 14/02/2006 21:09:51
Well I agree with Upton...if they had Pc's or Macs in their day they most certainly would have used them .

DocN...How long have you been using Ubuntu ?....does it copy all your settings for everything ?

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: DocN on 16/02/2006 21:10:27
I heard Leo Laporte (the Tech Guy) on KFI Radio (internet) tell someone to try Ubuntu on their old wins98 computer--so I did the same with a dual booth of both the old wins98 and Ubuntu.  You can get a free cd for downloading Ubuntu.  It is a great os--see--
http://easylinux.info/wiki/Ubuntu
for more info.
You do have to consider getting connected to the internet with Ubuntu--that is, if your old wins modem will be recognized, etc.  They have a great Ubuntu web forum for real help on all of this.
Doc
Title: Re: Would Einstein use a computer?
Post by: G-1 Theory on 20/02/2006 15:03:35
[:)]
I would give anything to have Einstein, Newton, Galileo, and De Vinci
here today. Because I realy beleave that if they could the use of all the facts that we now have at lightspeed today that these four men would finsh out the book on physics.

G-1