Klarinet Archive - Posting 000589.txt from 1998/07

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Physics of the clarinet
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 11:59:38 -0400

Gareth Bowen wrote:

> I have frequently found that physics equations do not always stand
>true when compared to what happens in 'real life'.

Then you must be living in an alternate universe, Gareth. :-)

As we all know, the science of physics is the science of describing, in
mathematical terms, precisely that which we observe in 'real life'. In
fact, if even a single instance is discovered where a particular equation
does not fit the 'real life' circumstances then it is thrown out (or in
some cases it is restricted to a special set of circumstances).

For example, the equation:

Force = Mass times Acceleration

was thought to be exactly correct for a long time. No one found a single
counter example to it until Einstein came along and introduced the theory
of relativity. And it turned out that the equation above is a special case
of the theory of relativity.

It so happens that the special case that it represents is the world in
which we normally live, where the things that we observe don't move at or
near the speed of light, and where gravity is not so intense that it curves
space in any immediately obvious ways.

So if you truely have "frequently found that physics equations do not
always stand true," you should run over and tell some of the Nobel prize
winners at Harvard and MIT, because they've probably only made such
discoveries once or twice in their lifetimes and they'd be very interested
to hear about all of yours! :-)

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Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net

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Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net

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