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| Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat (658779) | |
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Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat |
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Posted by WillD on Fri Sep 3 17:55:52 2010, in response to Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Sep 3 02:12:28 2010. This has nothing to do with the Big Bang, the grand unified force theory, or any other deeply cosmological principles. It is simply about astrophysicists trying to explain the difference in galactic rotation between what Newton's universal gravitation predicts and what astronomers observe. The far flung arms of spiral galaxies spin faster than we can properly explain with Newton's law of universal gravitation. This may happen because the galaxy we observe is buried within a cloud of particles which have mass but are invisible and do not interact with our everyday subatomic particles. That means the rotation speed would not fall off as sharply as we'd expect if the universe consisted of the stars and dust that we observe. That's where dark matter comes from, it's the weakly interactive massive particles which we have yet to directly observe.An alternative to the dark matter theory is the modified newtonian dynamics theory I explained previously. In this case there is some factor attached to Newton's F=G((m1-m2)/r2) which changes the force of gravity over interstellar distances. This means the stars in a galaxy can rotate faster than predicted without having the galaxies tear themselves apart. This change in gravity's effects over long distances may account for the Pioneer probe's otherwise inexplicable acceleration as it passed the heliopause. But then it is also possible that a dark matter cloud would account for that effect as well. In any event my point is that even the theory of gravity is not the cut and dried fact many demand evolution to be before they will accept it. There have been a number of breakdowns of Newton's theory of universal gravitation over the years at both the extremely large and extremely small ends of the spectrum. Just because we cannot account for every action gravity takes does not in any way invalidate the physical force that pervades our lives. The same is true of evolution. We may not be able to fully explain it, but we have enough observations to validate it as a force which has shaped at least this planet and it's inhabitants. You are correct that we need to eliminate our geocentric viewpoint, just as the Pioneer Anomaly may reduce our human scale, geocentric model of gravity to a more universal theory, getting off Earth on a long term basis may provide additional insights into evolution. |
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Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat |
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Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Sep 3 23:49:01 2010, in response to Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat, posted by SMAZ on Fri Sep 3 03:51:22 2010. check mate! |
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Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Fri Sep 3 23:58:32 2010, in response to Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Sep 3 23:49:01 2010. That's called a forfeit, actually. One of many. |
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Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat |
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Posted by Spider-Pig on Sat Sep 4 00:41:50 2010, in response to Re: [Future] MSNBC debates if the Earth is actually flat, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Sep 3 23:58:32 2010. ...by you. |
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