Physics Comprehension

SkyHog said:
I should define why I think 1) is true:

If I wave my hand behind a GIANT block of glass, and you look at it through the glass, you will likely see it happen after it did, while a person looking at it from an angle, not through the glass at all (ie - around the glass) would see it move realtime. That means, done properly, he could describe it to me before I see it.

That means, to me, at least, somehow, and I can't quite grasp it - that light can be in 2 different places at the same time....
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There is no "realtime." There is just relativity.

Consider if it was sound. The thunder is only not "realtime" if you're far enough away that you can see the lightning flash before you hear the thunder. Even the guy who gets hit experiences a time delay, it's just measured in microseconds.
 
mikea said:
There is no "realtime." There is just relativity.

Consider if it was sound. The thunder is only not "realtime" if you're far enough away that you can see the lightning flash before you hear the thunder. Even the guy who gets hit experiences a time delay, it's just measured in microseconds.
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Yabut... If a tree falls and nobody hears it, did it make a sound??? :skeptical:
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Nick,

Do you understand the bullet thing yet? 'cuz if you don't, nobody's gonna listen to you. ;)
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I understand you, my teacher, and everyone else that agrees with y'all are wrong :D

Observation trumps scientific "law" anyday. Otherwise, we'd still believe in Geocentric models of the universe.
 
SkyHog said:
I understand you, my teacher, and everyone else that agrees with y'all are wrong :D

Observation trumps scientific "law" anyday. Otherwise, we'd still believe in Geocentric models of the universe.
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Only if the interpretation of the observation is correct.

What is it you think you are observing?
 
Greebo said:
Only if the interpretation of the observation is correct.

What is it you think you are observing?
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Shoot a gun. Drop a bullet simultaneously. They do not both hit the ground at the same time.

Smaller test: drop a ball at the same time you roll one off a table. They do not hit the ground at the same time.

Air resistance is not the factor in such a small test.
 
SkyHog said:
Shoot a gun. Drop a bullet simultaneously. They do not both hit the ground at the same time.

Smaller test: drop a ball at the same time you roll one off a table. They do not hit the ground at the same time.

Air resistance is not the factor in such a small test.
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You're wrong in both cases. If the gun is fired level, and you remove any aerodynamic properties, the bullet hits the ground the same as being dropped. I think Mythbusters tested that.

Galileo showed that balls on an incline fall at the exactly the same rate.
 
SkyHog said:
Shoot a gun. Drop a bullet simultaneously. They do not both hit the ground at the same time.

Smaller test: drop a ball at the same time you roll one off a table. They do not hit the ground at the same time.

Air resistance is not the factor in such a small test.
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The loud groan everyone just heard was the collective response of classical physicists around the world...:yesnod:
 
Take a big step, a stride of about 4'. Now take another step that's half as big, about 2'. Then another step that's half as big as that one, and continue making smaller and smaller steps, each half the size of the previous step. Will you ever reach the fridge, 10' away, to get another beer?

(I don't know why that's relevant, but I think I heard it in 8th grade right about the time I first heard the dropping bullet argument).
-harry
 
Your feet will never reach the fridge. That's why the Lord gave you arms! Just get close enough, reach out and grab that cool one! -Skip
 
SkyHog said:
Shoot a gun. Drop a bullet simultaneously. They do not both hit the ground at the same time.

Smaller test: drop a ball at the same time you roll one off a table. They do not hit the ground at the same time.

Air resistance is not the factor in such a small test.
Click to expand...

mikea said:
You're wrong in both cases. If the gun is fired level, and you remove any aerodynamic properties, the bullet hits the ground the same as being dropped. I think The Mythbusters tested that.

Galileo showed that balls on an incline fall at the exactly the same rate.
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Clark1961 said:
The loud groan everyone just heard was the collective response of classical physicists around the world...:yesnod:
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Trapper John said:
What's heavier? A pound of lead or a pound of feathers? :D
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Obviously fake. :rofl:
 
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Ah, the bullet argument, I watched Kent and Nick argue for 2 hours about it on LiveChat a few weeks ago.
 
SkyHog said:
Shoot a gun. Drop a bullet simultaneously. They do not both hit the ground at the same time.

Smaller test: drop a ball at the same time you roll one off a table. They do not hit the ground at the same time.

Air resistance is not the factor in such a small test.
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jesse said:
Ah, the bullet argument, I watched Kent and Nick argue for 2 hours about it on LiveChat a few weeks ago.
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http://ask.metafilter.com/64480/Bullet-Theory-Not-JFK-related

Why am I suddenly feeling like I fell for a troll?
 
Skip Miller said:
Your feet will never reach the fridge. That's why the Lord gave you arms! Just get close enough, reach out and grab that cool one! -Skip
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Ahhh. That is the difference between a mathematical theorist and a practical engineer. :thumbsup:
 
Skip Miller said:
Your feet will never reach the fridge. That's why the Lord gave you arms! Just get close enough, reach out and grab that cool one! -Skip
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Who needs arms? Just tie a dish towel to the fridge handle and train your dog to get your beer! :yes:

If he had opposable thumbs, I'd have him answering the phone, too...


Trapper John
 
mantakos said:
Take a big step, a stride of about 4'. Now take another step that's half as big, about 2'. Then another step that's half as big as that one, and continue making smaller and smaller steps, each half the size of the previous step. Will you ever reach the fridge, 10' away, to get another beer?
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I thought this was physics, not calculus.
 
mantakos said:
Take a big step, a stride of about 4'. Now take another step that's half as big, about 2'. Then another step that's half as big as that one, and continue making smaller and smaller steps, each half the size of the previous step. Will you ever reach the fridge, 10' away, to get another beer?
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The limit of the distance traveled as the number of strides approaches infinity in this function is eight feet. Luckily, my arms are longer than two feet so I can grab a beer.

I hope that I'm allowed a new stride function after that so I can go to the bathroom! :eek: :rofl:
 
SkyHog said:
Shoot a gun. Drop a bullet simultaneously. They do not both hit the ground at the same time.

Smaller test: drop a ball at the same time you roll one off a table. They do not hit the ground at the same time.

Air resistance is not the factor in such a small test.
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Now you're just avoiding doing your budget...
 
Greebo said:
Now you're just avoiding doing your budget...
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LOL. No more putting it off - its due in about 45 minutes (its pretty much done now tho).

What would be interesting to see would be that moon video, but have him drop the feather and throw the hammer at the same time.....
 
SkyHog said:
LOL. No more putting it off - its due in about 45 minutes (its pretty much done now tho).

What would be interesting to see would be that moon video, but have him drop the feather and throw the hammer at the same time.....
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Wouldn't matter, assuming he threw it at a perfect perpendicular angle to the ground. (Allowing for the curvature of the surface)
 
SkyHog said:
What would be interesting to see would be that moon video, but have him drop the feather and throw the hammer at the same time.....
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So that was the cause of the loud groan I heard a few minutes ago...
 
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