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Talk:Theory of relativity (view source)
Revision as of 15:59, November 17, 2009
, 15:59, November 17, 2009→Comments on Newtonian Mechanics: What people think now is that Newtonian theory predict deflection of light
::: You are correct that the reference is not specific about whether people thought this ''at the time,'' but what matters is what people think ''now''. To truthfully say that Newtonian mechanics predicts the deflection of light, that has to be the state of the theory today, and it isn't. We could truthfully write that Newtonian mechanics did predict the acceleration and hence deflection of light centuries ago, but that has long since been abandoned---not the least because if masses accelerated light, we'd see light zipping by at many different speeds.
::: You are correct that the reference is not specific about whether people thought this ''at the time,'' but what matters is what people think ''now''. To truthfully say that Newtonian mechanics predicts the deflection of light, that has to be the state of the theory today, and it isn't. We could truthfully write that Newtonian mechanics did predict the acceleration and hence deflection of light centuries ago, but that has long since been abandoned---not the least because if masses accelerated light, we'd see light zipping by at many different speeds.
::: Finally, you will observe that while people differed in ages past on whether there ''was'' Newtonian deflection, none of those cites show any debate or disagreement over the ''magnitude'' of it. The predicted deflection is either zero (today) or 2GM/rcc; there are no varying interpretations of physics that resulted in 1.5GM or 3GM or 4GM or 1.1GM. Yet this seems to be what the article is implying, in defense of the Newtonian prediction being wrong.
::: Finally, you will observe that while people differed in ages past on whether there ''was'' Newtonian deflection, none of those cites show any debate or disagreement over the ''magnitude'' of it. The predicted deflection is either zero (today) or 2GM/rcc; there are no varying interpretations of physics that resulted in 1.5GM or 3GM or 4GM or 1.1GM. Yet this seems to be what the article is implying, in defense of the Newtonian prediction being wrong. UNSIGNED
:::: What people think now is that Newtonian theory predict deflection of light. That is what all the sources say, and I don't know why you would say anything else. People now say that light has mass, that Newtonian gravity attracts light, and that light is deflected. [[User:RSchlafly|RSchlafly]] 10:59, 17 November 2009 (EST)