How many people here have an elementary understanding of physics?

Question

This is not an attack on religion and I do not want any abuse towards any belief systems here. No mockery, no evangelism, none of that.

I answered a question recently where someone didn't understand the fundamentals of classical physics, but were asking a question that required a quantum physics answer. When I answered them, they dismissed my answer as wrong. If someone doesn't even understand the fundamentals of classical physics they have no hope understanding the physics of very-small or very-large, and yet this person was arguing that I was wrong despite my physics training.

It seemed that they wanted to use the first law of thermodynamics to prove that something on the quantum scale was impossible (ergo proving God's existence). When I tried to explain to them the answer, they weren't prepared to listen.

How many people here actually have some training in physics and are hence qualified to answer questions about the creation of energy?

town_cl0wn: That is exactly right, it is called Heisenburg's uncertainty principal. The value of the reduced plancks constant is such that the time over which the energy change is allowed is extremely small.

town_cl0wn: People can email me via Yahoo! Answers, so if you do have a physics question, just ask me! I will answer. Physics is my passion.

sherylluzentales: You are quite right, but that equation has absolutely nothing to do with what I was talking about and perfectly demonstrates that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing'. Why do you assume E=mc^2 (which is incorrect, by the way) points to absolute energy conservation?

The correct formula is:

E^2 = (m_0)^2c^4 + p^2c^2 (where m_0 is the REST mass and p is the momentum operator)

Answer 1

I read your answer and I must admit, I've only glossed over QED for the time-being (natural/life sciences student)

however in the equation, DeltaE x t < h, it appears that the conservation of energy CAN be breached, as long as the debt is repaid

is this what you're referring to?


edit: I'd just like to add, don't quiz me over my physics knowledge lol, I barely know a thing, but your question was interesting enough for me to have a look at some parts of my studies that like I said, just glossed over for now

but anyway, now I've found someone I CAN quiz when I get stuck in a rut muahahaha

Answer 2

I have, but I am a Buddhist so I don't count.
In this forum there is a general head butting of fact against belief with the believers trying to distort fact to support belief and the logicians (for want of a better word) trying to us fact to prove the non existence of something spiritual which the believers feel is independent of any facts.
You should look at some of the questions on evolution versus Creation to see the way they all distort things to suit the requirement to show proof that they are right.
Very few people seem able to simply say that they do not know all the answers.

Answer 3

I took AP physics in high school and all i remember from that class is Lifting my head up off the table to look at the clock every 10 minutes or so. Never was a big fan of science. Im not into organized religion either. The real question is how do you define 'god'. I dont see god as the christian god. I have had many deep spirtual experences thru meditation and enthegenic substances. I think some things are beyond science. I might start listening to science when they tell me why the universe came to be

Answer 4

I found people here who seem to lack an elementary knowledge of anything - history, linguistics, spelling, math, grammar,etc.

I got into an argument with a guy about the particular wording of a passage in Leviticus. He apparently couldn't understand the concept of "translation", since judging by his arguments he seemed to think that the Bible was originally written in English, not Hebrew (and he claimed to be an atheist, so do not imply that religious people are stupid).

And someone thought that "Vulgate" was a language, not a book. And so on.

I have a B.S. in Electrical engineering, so I've had some physics, yes. I got into a brief argument with an atheist who thought that the 2nd Law Of Thermodynamics had nothing to do with order or disorder (entropy). His argument is that water should never form into ice if I was right. I gave him some website links, and let it go.

Like Panangel said, If you tell people what they don't want to hear, then they act completely ignorant and unreasonable. You have to expect that.

Answer 5

And your question is?
Depends on your definition of understand or rather a matter of emphasis. UNDERSTAND the fundamentals or understand the FUNDAMENTALS. There is a difference.
Anyway some people have a belief and will stick to it no matter what. Unfortunately a lot of people do it and among them religious people. There is nothing you can do but try. Not worth though loosing your cool over nothing or something that doesn't exist.

Answer 6

I studied theoretical physics in college. Quantum mechanics has always interested me. I'm not sure exactly what qualifications you're looking for, I completely understand your point. I have also answered questions in detail explaining as best I could about physics and certain people just dismiss it.

I do not follow a mainstream religion though, I am Asatru.

Answer 7

The last answer has a good link. You could read books by Richard Feynman - quantum physicist and a very entertaining writer. The Feynman Lecture series would be a good start!

Answer 8

I am a University student, so I don't have elementary physics rather University Physics. And I read about Quantum Mechanics before...

I am Muslim

Answer 9

I'll be the first to admit it. I know nothing about physics or any other complicated mathematical subject. I have a rudimentery understanding of science. I have learning disabillities, I am not stupid.

Answer 10

I know through first hand knowledge that I will hit the ground at the same time the beer bottle I dropped off the balcony when I chase it immediately.