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General Science / Re: Are we on course for a Nobel Prize For Guessing?
« on: 19/03/2004 16:30:33 »
Actually, gravity and elasitc don't work on the same principle. Elastic works by the electromagnetic forces between molecules holding together and allowing some "give". Cannibinoid or one of the chemistry types can give more detail.
Gravity on the other hand is an attractive force between any two masses that acts across a distance. For any given distance, the electromagnetic forces are several orders of magnitude greater than the gravitational force. However, electrically charged particles come in pairs (electrons and protons) and normally cancel each other out on scales larger than molecules. An exception to this is when you develop a static charge relative to some other object - your hair stands up because of the electric field forces. Gravity on the other hand does not cancel out - it is always attractive. Thus we stay on the earth. Moons and planets stay in orbit. The galaxy stays together.
Quantum mechanics is truly bizzare, but as qpan says, it is not in-comprehensible if you build up your understanding by getting the necessary training. I understand your statement about learning more results in having more questions. It teaches you to not just accept things, but to really learn how they work. This leads to knowing about the uncertanties in scientific knowledge. It also leads to knowing more about what really is known and why we know it.
Quantum mechanics is not the end of the line in our understanding of physics. Relativity is not either. They are both very accurate descriptions for what they describe. They have some fundamental incompatabilities that they should not have. Also, quantum mechanics cannot explain (or predict) gravity. There si something deeper that we don't understand yet. But that is part of the thrill of science. Trying to understand something that no one else has ever figured out.
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John - The Eternal Pessimist.
Gravity on the other hand is an attractive force between any two masses that acts across a distance. For any given distance, the electromagnetic forces are several orders of magnitude greater than the gravitational force. However, electrically charged particles come in pairs (electrons and protons) and normally cancel each other out on scales larger than molecules. An exception to this is when you develop a static charge relative to some other object - your hair stands up because of the electric field forces. Gravity on the other hand does not cancel out - it is always attractive. Thus we stay on the earth. Moons and planets stay in orbit. The galaxy stays together.
Quantum mechanics is truly bizzare, but as qpan says, it is not in-comprehensible if you build up your understanding by getting the necessary training. I understand your statement about learning more results in having more questions. It teaches you to not just accept things, but to really learn how they work. This leads to knowing about the uncertanties in scientific knowledge. It also leads to knowing more about what really is known and why we know it.
Quantum mechanics is not the end of the line in our understanding of physics. Relativity is not either. They are both very accurate descriptions for what they describe. They have some fundamental incompatabilities that they should not have. Also, quantum mechanics cannot explain (or predict) gravity. There si something deeper that we don't understand yet. But that is part of the thrill of science. Trying to understand something that no one else has ever figured out.
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John - The Eternal Pessimist.
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