2006-09-12 05:55:46 · 23 answers · asked by George v 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Einstein's theory of relativity says that it's impossible to say which is true. It's all relative.
2006-09-12 06:00:15 · answer #1 · answered by Bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a physicist but I was a meteorologist in the Air Force. I would have to say that "it is all relative," is not the correct answer. I'm not saying that I know the answer either. However, I do know that everything in the universe is moving, both on a molecular level and on the level of our experience; the universe is expanding. The earth revolves around the sun and the milky way galaxy revolves...and so on. You can't say with absolute certainty that tree's don't move because they do, some people believe that they can talk! It is possible to say that I can move past a fixed point from the perspective of an external observer. Even though I can't see the leaves rustling in the trees outside my window I can hear them and so I know that the leaves are moving. When you walk, the trees are moving past you but not at the same speed and direction that you are moving past them, nor are they aware of any movement. It's really not a philisophical question like: What is love? And even that can be explained on a scientific basis. Technically, yes, you have gone by the trees and the trees have gone by you in time and position not in the present tense but in the past. Do the trees exist in the time before the present. No, I don't think so. I think they exist only in the present. Time is a relative concept.
2006-09-12 06:25:09 · answer #2 · answered by Maine Landscapes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are trying to understand is called relative motion and it had Einstein in a puzzle till he figured it out and came up with relativity theory.
If you are moving past the tree you will know that you are moving. . However if you collide with the tree you will know that its the tree that has moved toward you and hit you. This is complicated Relativity theory. Its not easy to Understand.
2006-09-12 06:40:28 · answer #3 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Question, in fact the trees are moving past us, I live next to a forest and it can get pretty chaotic with trees running about all over the place, and at night the noise they make can be very annoying,hope this helps.
2006-09-12 06:05:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are moving past the trees.
2006-09-12 06:02:13 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, when your in town sat down e.g, the tree next to you stays still and when you move the trees stay still. The world is suppose to be always spinning but things don't move unless there physically moved.
2006-09-12 06:28:18 · answer #6 · answered by Sereniti 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either explanation is true.
This is Einsteinian relativity. Basically it states that any inertial reference frame (that is, one that is not accelerating or under the influence of gravity) is equally valid as a starting point. On the surface, it appears to cause problems like the Twin Paradox; but those resolve nicelywhen you relize one twin is accelerating and therefore their reference frame is not valid.
But in our daily existence, relativistic effects don't happen. Either viewpoint is a perfectly acceptable description.
2006-09-12 06:12:02 · answer #7 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can view it either way. Each constitutes an inertial frame of reference, in which all the laws of physics are valid. Obviously, it is usually more convenient to say that we are moving.
2006-09-12 06:08:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trees are stationary. We are moving.
2006-09-12 06:20:32 · answer #9 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both are moving -
the stationary objects (trees) are moving, by virtue of the planet spinning. . .so are we . . . just visibly moving also.
2006-09-12 06:02:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋