Einstein's Search & the Illusion of Reality

[regnauld]

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Quantum physics tells us that reality is far beyond human perception and intuition. In other words, our rational mind and common sense are just not capable of understanding the true nature of reality.

Einstein's theory of relativity introduced a new way of looking at the physical properties of the universe. The Newtonian constraints of absolute time and space were abandoned. Time and space were unified and made relative, it formed a continuum that curved and enfolded about itself. Gravity was a distortion of this continuum caused by the presence of mass. From this, the famous formula e=mc~ was derived. (e=energy, m=mass, c=the speed of light, the magical constant in the system, the absolute maximum speed that anything can travel.)

So Einstein's famous theory has one absolute (speed of light) in a relative universe, and it forms a kind of boundary around all we can know. Even though this theory has been borne out by many experiments, its consequences appear very bizarre. Objects shrink when they are in motion, space time curves, light is bent by gravity etc.

[bluedes]

Quantum physics tells us that reality is far beyond human perception and intuition. In other words, our rational mind and common sense are just not capable of understanding the true nature of reality.

Einstein's theory of relativity introduced a new way of looking at the physical properties of the universe. The Newtonian constraints of absolute time and space were abandoned. Time and space were unified and made relative, it formed a continuum that curved and enfolded about itself. Gravity was a distortion of this continuum caused by the presence of mass. From this, the famous formula e=mc~ was derived. (e=energy, m=mass, c=the speed of light, the magical constant in the system, the absolute maximum speed that anything can travel.)

So Einstein's famous theory has one absolute (speed of light) in a relative universe, and it forms a kind of boundary around all we can know. Even though this theory has been borne out by many experiments, its consequences appear very bizarre. Objects shrink when they are in motion, space time curves, light is bent by gravity etc.

that's because light is a determining factor in observing things. without light, we cannot truly say that a thing is being observed or not. and since light has been said to have a constant speed, it affects how we observe things relative to our motion.

[pepau]

i think light do not have a constant speed. the medium where it passes causes it to slow down or speed up

[Kenshiro]

I haven't fully understood the theory of Relativity so I have no comments for it.

[stew_griff]

i think light do not have a constant speed. the medium where it passes causes it to slow down or speed up

slowdown ra cguro oi...

[fritzd]

i think light do not have a constant speed. the medium where it passes causes it to slow down or speed up

what einstein meant was that light travels in constant speed in absolute vacuum. (In a nutshell) When light encounters a medium (eg. glass), the atomic structure constantly absorbs the incoming photon and re-emits it again. This produces a delay which is appear that light has slowed down. In scientific terms this is called the phase velocity. But the truth is, it's not really slowing down, its just delayed. =)

And strictly speaking nothing can go faster than the speed of light. If you have read some scientific articles about light moving very fast in a medium. It is actually the phase velocity that can go beyond the speed of light. Light itself is still traveling through its normal speed in vacuum, in between the atoms. It is a concept quite hard to grasp and sometimes some some scientific newsletters confused this as something that violates eintein's idea. =)



As for Einstein, I believe he really was brilliant. He founded a theory which clears the understanding of our big universe, Special and General Relativity. The equation E=mc^2 is just a very simple equation which is not actually the true form of his equation when he derived in from his Special Relativity. The true amazing equations are in General Relativity but they are just too mathematically complicated and no ordinary person can understand what is means if he would publicize it to the media instead of E=mc^2. General Relativity is just a complex as Quantum Physics. Einstein's last goal was to unify all theories in physics for a Unified theory. Unfortunately, his lifetime ran out. Now, this pursuit for unifications now falls with String Theory. Aside from all these things that most of you know about, Einstein actually had other notable contributions to Physics. One of which is the Photoelectric effect for which he won a Nobel prize which is very important to Photon <--> Electronics technologies. Another interesting contributions Einstein is the Einsteins Coefficients in Laser theory. He actually already predicted the laser before the Quantum Mechanics. Strictly speaking, one uses Quantum Mechanics to derive all the laser rate equations but Einsteins did without Quantum Mechanics. It is actually through Einsteins initial efforts that led to the formulation of Quantum Mechanics. And one more contribution I know about Einstein is the Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC), Bose?Einstein condensate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. BECs are profoundly studied in the field of Quantum Atomic optics are may hold the potential of future Quantum Computers.

[Hellblazer 2.1]

if light is energy and energy has mass, then does it mean that light has mass? if if passes through a gravitational field, will it have weight and consequently be bent? if that is the case, then the light we receive from distant stars would not be from its exact position right?

[Hellblazer 2.1]

just asking lang ha. ayaw lang ko dukla dayon.

[bluedes]

if light is energy and energy has mass, then does it mean that light has mass? if if passes through a gravitational field, will it have weight and consequently be bent? if that is the case, then the light we receive from distant stars would not be from its exact position right?

yeah, you got that right.. light has some mass.. but very very light..
only a blackhole can bend light through its gravitational pull..

[Hellblazer 2.1]

even at the Event Horizon only? light can't escape the rim of the hole?