Bible-beater pilots

"Richard Hertz" wrote in



straight lines in spherical geometries.

Um, but the shortest distance between two points is STILL a stright
line...

At non-relativistic speeds, it's so nearly a straight line as to be
inconsequential. But, at speeds approaching the speed of light, it isn't.
Unless you don't believe that the speed of light is a constant in vacuo.

le m

Happy,

Unless you don't believe that the speed of light is a constant in vacuo.


What's there not to believe? Anyone using GPS cannot deny Einstein - it
wouldn't work without relativity.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote:
Unless you don't believe that the speed of light is a constant in vacuo.

What's there not to believe? Anyone using GPS cannot deny Einstein - it
wouldn't work without relativity.

Relativity has certainly been well-tested and (as you say) widely used.
However, there is serious discussion taking place concerning the
possibility of a variable speed of light as an alternative to inflation
during the early phases of the big bang.
See
http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1475-7516/2003/07/004 and
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0209014

Peter,

during the early phases of the big bang.


True. But that's been over for a while ;-)

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Peter wrote:

Thomas Borchert wrote:

Unless you don't believe that the speed of light is a constant in
vacuo.


What's there not to believe? Anyone using GPS cannot deny Einstein -
it wouldn't work without relativity.

Relativity has certainly been well-tested and (as you say) widely
used. However, there is serious discussion taking place concerning the
possibility of a variable speed of light as an alternative to
inflation during the early phases of the big bang.

Which demonstrates the fundamental difference between science and
religion - science
is falsifiable, and it is correctable. Religion is not. Science can say
"look here - here's
something that can't be explained by relativity, maybe we need to modify
our theories
a little bit."

When religion can propose a test that, if succesful, would disprove
the existance of God,
then will I be willing to grant it a status on par with science.

Rich Lemert