From: Tony Hollick (anduril@cix.compulink.co.uk)
Date: Tue Jun 09 1998 - 12:42:18 MDT
In Response to John Clark, Mike Lorrey and others:
A lot of the points you raise miss the point, because of some
common misunderstandings. I propose to essay a clarification!
Classical Mechanics is essentially Euclid's geometry with the addition of
mass-points and vector forces (forces having direction and magnitude).
Newton's Three Laws of Motion are its foundation.
Newton added his (confusing) theory of gravitation to create Newtonian
physics. Confusing, because Newton treats gravitation as acting
instantaneously at a distance, even while denying this! He had to deny
it, because action-at-a-distance was 'occult' and proposing it would have
put his life at risk.
His 'corpuscular' theory of light, and his ideas on electricity and
magnetism, were never fully included into the Newtonian programme.
In the early 1800s, 'aether' theories of both light and electromagnetism
gained the ascendancy. The aether fills all of space: light is waves in
the aether; and electric and magnetic forces are transmitted via the
aether.
Electrodynamics divided, into the English programs of Faraday (fields of
force) and Maxwell (aether force-transmission); and the Continental
programs of Weber, Helmholtz etc., in which electric and magnetic forces
are Newtonian instantaneous action-at-a-distance forces, or delayed
action-at-a-distance forces.
By the end of the 19th Century, Maxwell's unified theory of light and
electromagnetism, with an aether, had won out, consigning Faraday's field
theory to history (for a while); and consigning particle theories of
light to history (for a while).
Maxwell's theory does conform fully with Classical Mechanics.
Thus we had arrived at 'Classical Physics' -- Newtonian Mechanics plus
Maxwell's electromagnetics. Physics seemed 'complete.' Two niggling
problem-situations remained: the lack of evidence for the aether itself;
and problems with the wave theory of light (black-body radiation; the
'ultraviolet catastrohe'; photoelectric effects; etc).
I am _not_ proposing a return to 'Classical Physics.'
I _am_ proposing a return to a 'particles, forces, empty space'
metaphysics.
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I propose that we return to the point where aether theories gained the
ascendancy, and *instead* we take a different tack. We continue with
the ballistic or 'particle' or 'quantum' theory of light -- we now know
that particle theories of light can predict, describe and explain all
optical phenomena: and we retain and integrate Faraday's fields of
force to include gravitation, electricity and magnetism. It is
possible to do this in full compliance with Classical Mechanics and in
conformance with the physical electrical and magnetic evidence, as was
shown by Leigh Page, Professor of Mathematical Physics at Yale [1912]
and [1913].
Using this theoretical system, we then 'walk back the cat' as the
counterspies say, and re-examine each 'crucial experiment' in the light
of present experimental knowledge. Lo and behold, all the 'evidence'
for Special and General Relativity dissolves: Quantum Mechanics becomes
just a useful approximation method (without any mistaken reification of
its terms); and Quantum Electrodynamics becomes unnecessary.
In result, we have a simplified, self-consistent and fully integrated
Physics, ready to advance into the territory presently occupied by
Quantum Chromodynamics.
/ /\ \
--*--<Tony>--*--
Tony Hollick, LightSmith
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/la-agora (LA-Agora Conference)
http://www.agora.demon.co.uk (Agora Home Page, Rainbow Bridge Foundation)
http://www.nwb.net/nwc (NorthWest Coalition Against Malicious Harrassment)
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<EOT>
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