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Author Topic:   Does the universe have total net energy of zero?
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 4.2


Message 16 of 404 (643689)
12-10-2011 11:42 AM
Reply to: Message 11 by designtheorist
12-10-2011 10:19 AM


Re: Is the total net energy in the universe zero?
Here's something to keep in mind when looking at hypotheses from theoretical physicists.
  1. Theoretical physicists are mostly pretty good mathematicians;
  2. mathematics is all about idealizations;
  3. scientific theories are often idealizations;
  4. zero is the most ideal numeric value.
We don't have the ability to exactly measure the total net energy. Hypotheses such as these are used to generate testable predictions. And then, whether or not those predictions stand up to the tests will be taken as information supporting or contradicting the hypothesis.
In short, hypotheses such as the one you are discussing, is part of how physics works. Non-physicists should sit back and watch, but there's no reason to get all excited or upset about it.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by designtheorist, posted 12-10-2011 10:19 AM designtheorist has replied

Replies to this message:
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nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 4.2


Message 214 of 404 (645362)
12-26-2011 4:25 PM
Reply to: Message 213 by designtheorist
12-26-2011 4:01 PM


Re: Not a Bad Parable - I Fixed It
designtheorist writes:
I see Vimesey's parable as illustrating the importance of believing those in authority and positions of power.
Aha! Who would have guessed it. You are an alien from outer space. Taz recently made a post about that (Message 458).
In this world, the one where I live, mechanics have little power or authority. What little authority they do have, comes from their demonstrated abilities at solving mechanical problems.
When I take my automobile to a mechanic, I have the power and authority to take it somewhere if I don't like the color of the shirt that the mechanic is wearing.

Christianity claims the moral high ground it its rhetoric. It has long since abandoned the moral high ground in its practices

This message is a reply to:
 Message 213 by designtheorist, posted 12-26-2011 4:01 PM designtheorist has not replied

  
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