…blem. When Galileo died in 1642, there were still two competing schools of free fall. The Galilean School upheld Galileo’s law of free fall, which may be posed either of two forms: d ∝ t2, or v ∝ t, for any freely falling body. The first claim is the famous time-squared law. The second claim says that velocity in free fall is proportional to time fallen. It’s easy to prove that these two claims are equivalent. On the other hand, the Jesuit School…
Read more…his out in the following way. A calculation that requires an ornate, often complicated conceptual apparatus on the new account, can be calculated in one line using quantum mechanics. So in what sense do the these new accounts improve our understanding? To me, how you answer Bill’s question depends on how bothered you are by the “upset-feeling” I described above. Should we provide a “more fundamental” account of quantum phenomena than quantum mecha…
Read more…d Courant’s classic “What Is Mathematics?” and it was like reading about a completely new subject. There are many books of this kind. The goal is not to batter you with formalism, but to help you develop the imagination and the curiosity and the discovery that makes mathematics so beautifully enjoyable. I remember my first experience with Courant’s book like a breath of fresh air. And I’ve always wondered: why on earth wasn’t math like that in sch…
Read more…his (and all) string theory. So your empiricist scruples set you free here — mini-black-holes at CERN are little more than a fancy speculation. Maybe there’s monsters in the closet too, but I’m not holding my breath. Whew. Do you feel liberated? I feel liberated. For more information, download the expert safety reports at the CERN website. Soul Physics is authored by Bryan W. Roberts. Thanks for subscribing. Want more Soul Physics? Try the Soul Ph…
Read more…d. Hi-res 3D images of ATLAS detector events can be found at their project website: Images from the ALICE experiment area available through their website: And, in case all this is still making you nervous, here are a few rants about black holes at the LHC. Enjoy! No, there are STILL no deadly mini-black holes! Update on the LHC: Still no mini-black holes LHC Black Holes: Why I’m not holding my breath Soul Physics is authored by Bryan W. Roberts. T…
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