Isn't science just full of theories and thoughts? I mean, nothing in science is actually proven, is there? Take gravity for example, some scientists now think that the force of gravity may not even exist. Textbooks will have to be erased. What is science?
2007-05-07 15:48:47 · 7 answers · asked by The Ponderer 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
to help you understand the gravity debate, some scientists think that since gravity can be simulated by acceleration, that gravity is acceleration. And some quantum phenomena causes this, and gravity is merely an effect, rather than a force
2007-05-07 16:00:28 · update #1
Science(physical), simply put, is OUR understanding of the universe we live in. Truth is relative if you can wrap your mind around that one.
As for gravity, it does in fact exist. If it did not, we would not be here! The spinning/artificial gravity you are talking about is called centripetal acceleration. It is a force, just as gravity it.
One particular theory on gravity I find that has the greatest possibility of being true is as follows: Matter contorts space. This contortion causes for a forceful effect of all matter around it. Sort of like if you have a bowling ball in the middle of a trampoline. the Earth is the bowling ball, and the trampoline is space. If you put marbles in the trampoline, they will move towards the the bowling ball! The marbles are us, and all matter for that matter(pardon the pun). Just visualize an invisible 4D contortion of something we like to call space.
If you have anymore questions about gravity I would like to answer them for you!
Hope I clarified some things for you
2007-05-07 16:11:41 · answer #1 · answered by J J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If God created the universe, then
"Science Explains The Hand Of God."
You are thinking of science as proving something and that definition remains forever. However, science if not constant, as our understanding improves so does our explanations of things.
Science is an ever evolving field of study, just like all higher levels of learning. It is the same as " once a person graduates college the learning is still not over, life is but a learning adventure" - Enjoy the ride !!
The Trampoline example is great but I happen to favor the rowboat on a pond of water. You'll notice how it distort the immediate area and send waves about it in all directions to distort an area about the idle boat on the pond. This is gravity, matter effect the space about it in all directions too.
Unlike the trapoline where the matter sinks into the space, the rowboat expample the matter is supported by the space. Kind of like saying space has a buoyancy to it.
2007-05-07 23:22:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what proof you need, but a lot of things in science are proven. In terms of the gravity debate, I'm not sure what you are referring to. I study physics at the graduate level and I'm unaware of any claims against gravity, could you elaborate so I can respond better?
Well, I know several mathematical ideas of handling gravity do exist (ie. TeVas, MOND, Brans-Dicke), but these are mostly mathematical theories that fail to attack the bigger question you brought up. It is true that acceleration can "simulate" gravity, but this is purely a result of general relativity (you are considering the rocket/man on earth gedanken?). Ultimately, you have to consider what has been proven to you. I am comfortable with general relativity and I have yet to see something the proves it wrong.
OH! I missed one thing you said, gravity is acceleration, well that is true and already demonstrated in GR. So yeah, it's proven :-)
2007-05-07 22:56:34 · answer #3 · answered by neuro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your first two questions show profound insight, and the answer to both is yes. Physical science is unlike mathematics. It is not susceptible to rigorous proof. While Newtonian mechanics is well demonstrated and supported by experiment, it needs to be adjusted where speeds approach the speed of light, and dimensions approach quantum limits. Science deals with all of this. Good science offers theories which represent reality to the best of our ability and understanding at the time. Good science also recognizes obvious places where it is incomplete, such as unification of gravity with relativity and quantum electrodynamics, and what were things like before the Big Bang.
You should have omitted the rest of your post, since it reveals your understanding of science isn't good, and makes the insight of your initial question more coincidental than profound.
2007-05-08 19:52:09 · answer #4 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure, there are lots of things proven. There are also lots of things unproven. Like gravity. We do not know everything, but we do know a lot. For example, there have been conservation laws proven to exist (energy, momentum, and I am barely scratching the surface). There is no specific definition to science, but one could say it is the pursuit of knowledge and a tool to solve problems.
Next time you do not think anything in science is proven, I urge you to try to break a law of physics.
2007-05-07 22:56:44 · answer #5 · answered by Mercury 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its true that most of it is theory and thought.
However, much of it has been tested so much that from theories, they become laws.
Think of science like this:
Imagine an unopenable black box with something inside of it. The only way to know what is inside of the box is to use your senses and eliminate possibilities.
Science is like that where the thing in the box is the right answer and instead of using senses, you test theories, and when more and more theories become disaproved, you get a clearer idea of what is inside the box.
2007-05-09 20:30:56 · answer #6 · answered by ck_pinna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right, lets stop teaching kids science.
Lets pull out bibles and preach to our kids....
Yeah Right!!
Don't be ignorant, Science is the truth, the bible is ****
2007-05-07 22:54:23 · answer #7 · answered by Matt21 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋