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Old 05-05-2011, 08:51 AM   #924
Flash Walken
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yasa View Post
So what are the implications of such a discovery?
I'm not a physicist, so I hope no one jumps on me for this, but from what I understand, the implications of this are that it represents a true understand of the process of einstein's calculations.

Before, the question was whether this theory was an 'end' and not the means (ie. predicting the end result without really understanding what is happening to get to that point.)

Before, general relativity was something accepted as a theory, with some holdouts from the consensus, now it is demonstrably true. Now, physics and math that follow it are building upon the base of something 'true' rather than 'potentially true'.

Again, I am not a physicist, so this may be an inaccurate analogy, but it's the difference between building your house on what you BELIEVE to be a reasonable foundation compared to KNOWING it is a reasonable foundation. When you know, you can more accurately plan the things that go on top of the foundation.

Edit: "Is this wall not plumb because I didn't build the wall correctly, or because the foundation is off slightly? Well, I know the foundation is correct, therefore I must have built the wall incorrectly."

Last edited by Flash Walken; 05-05-2011 at 08:54 AM.
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