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Common Sense vs The Theory of Relativity

TrueBeliever37

Well-Known Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Common sense based upon personal experience
won't serve you well in the world of physics.
That requires more study & understanding.

It reminds me of Richard Feynman....
"What I am going to tell you about is what we teach our physics students in the third or fourth year of graduate school... It is my task to convince you not to turn away because you don't understand it. You see my physics students don't understand it... That is because I don't understand it. Nobody does."
 

F1fan

Veteran Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?
Einstein demonstrated it as a fact. It's not a concept to believe in.

What is your gripe with the fact that gravity can bend light?
For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Why can't your common sense answer these questions? Seems it isn't very good.
 

TagliatelliMonster

Veteran Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense,

Most of advanced physics contradicts "common sense".

Our common sense evolved to avoid being eaten by lions in Africa. Not to understand quantum mechanics or to have an intuitive sense of what it is like to travel at extreme speeds or be in the proximity of extreme gravity.

Almost every discovery of advanced physics has defied our "common sense".

and fundamental laws of Physics?

What laws are supposedly contradicted by relativity?

Are you aware that without accounting for relativistic effects, something like GPS for example doesn't work?
Do you know and understand why that is the case?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel?

It's explained in the theory of relativity why.... :shrug:

To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Which only speaks to how your mind works, not how reality works.
The facts are the facts and they are undeniable.

Take two atomic clocks, the most accurate you can find and synchronize them.
Send one into orbit around earth at 40.000 km/h and keep the other on the ground.
Then have the space probe land on earth again some time later.
Compare both clocks. You will see they no longer show the same time.

This is the principle that must be accounted for to make GPS work. GPS pinpoints your position by measuring the time it takes to exchange signals between a receiver on earth and the satellite in space. This comparison is done by having the time tick of the receiver on the ground and compare it to the time tick of the clock inside the satellite. If the relativistic effects aren't accounted for, then the measurement is off. Then the system will fail to pinpoint your position and it will have a margin of error of several miles. So, the clock inside the satellite is thus calibrated to tick at a different rate as opposed to those on earth to account for the relativistic effects of traveling in orbit at 40.000 km/h. Do that, and then the error margin of pinpointing the position of the receiver is suddenly reduced to 1 or 2 meters only.

And that's just one way of MANY how it can be demonstrated that time is relative to the observer.
There's plenty of other experiments you can do to demonstrate the same. And the measurements of the experiments will ALWAYS match the relativity equations to a T.
 

vijeno

Active Member
when it contradicts basic common sense

By realizing that common sense is flawed and limited. If I went by common sense, the earth would be flat, the sun revolve around the earth, and 1/0 = Infinity. But I know all those to be wrong, because there are extremely good arguments against them.

Also, it doesn't matter for my day-to-day life anyway, so I can just go with what the experts say even if I don't understand it completely.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.

So you don't use sat nav then?

The speed of light is only constant in vacuum. It slows considerably when not in vacuum. I experiment light has been slowed to 27.5mph in a cloud of sodium ions.

It is proven by using atomic clocks, one fixed, one in an plane or satellite circling the earth that time is reletive to speed. I.e. the faster one travels the slower time passes.
 

Viker

Your beloved eccentric Auntie Cristal
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Just trying to help!

Appeal to Common Sense

https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-theory-of-relativity-lesson-for-kids.html#:~:text=''%20The%20motion%20of%20one,seven%20and%20a%20half%20times!
 

Audie

Veteran Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Common sense says heavy things fall faster.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Just tell yourself that "God did it".

Questions solved.
 

ImmortalFlame

Woke gremlin
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?
The Universe doesn't bend to perception and limits of the imagination of human creatures. How it functions doesn't necessarily have to make sense to us, and being able to get over that basic fallacy is the first step towards actually being able to see the Universe how it is.

Relativity is such a well-understood and used theory in the field of physics right now that arguing against it is like arguing against gravity.

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Maybe try considering that there's no reason why it can't do those things. This is kind of like someone saying "I don't believe in the theory of gravity. For instance, how can things just fall down and how can large bodies of matter be physically attracted to each other? To me, these are ridiculous ideas". The theory of gravity EXPLAINS how, much like how the theory of general relativity EXPLAIN how these things you have said may occur.

Have you ever looked into quantum mechanics? It'd blow your mind.
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
The vindication of the theory of relativity is the usual one ─ it works.

You'll find that it hasn't contradicted fundamental laws of physics, merely updated them ─ as is the way with successful scientific theories.

That's not to say that they're absolute statements or in any way the last word, though. Science never claims to make absolute statements. It simply sets out our best understandings as they're formulated from time to time.
 

Mock Turtle

Oh my, did I say that!
Premium Member
How can you believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity when it contradicts basic common sense, and fundamental laws of Physics?

For instance the speed of light is a constant, so how can photons experience no time or distance? How can something just happen and yet supposedly happen at a different time for someone else? How can two twins ages change just because of travel? To me these are ridiculous ideas.
Where do you think 'common sense' comes from?
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Even the 6 day poof? Flood?
Shirley you’re joking.
1727874301832.png
 

TrueBeliever37

Well-Known Member
The Universe doesn't bend to perception and limits of the imagination of human creatures. How it functions doesn't necessarily have to make sense to us, and being able to get over that basic fallacy is the first step towards actually being able to see the Universe how it is.

Relativity is such a well-understood and used theory in the field of physics right now that arguing against it is like arguing against gravity.


Maybe try considering that there's no reason why it can't do those things. This is kind of like someone saying "I don't believe in the theory of gravity. For instance, how can things just fall down and how can large bodies of matter be physically attracted to each other? To me, these are ridiculous ideas". The theory of gravity EXPLAINS how, much like how the theory of general relativity EXPLAIN how these things you have said may occur.

Have you ever looked into quantum mechanics? It'd blow your mind.
Yes I have looked into quantum mechanics. It is very interesting. But lately I have been reading "Relativity Visualized" by Lewis Carroll Epstein. It's just that I think there are flaws in the thinking behind the theory to begin with. Like the moving clock slowing for instance. Who is to say which perspective is the one moving? Both individuals can claim to be the one at rest, with the other moving. So which clock actually slows? You always get two different answers and only one at most can really be correct.
 

TrueBeliever37

Well-Known Member
By realizing that common sense is flawed and limited. If I went by common sense, the earth would be flat, the sun revolve around the earth, and 1/0 = Infinity. But I know all those to be wrong, because there are extremely good arguments against them.

Also, it doesn't matter for my day-to-day life anyway, so I can just go with what the experts say even if I don't understand it completely.
No you can look at other planets in the sky and tell they are basically round. And common sense wouldn't necessarily let you know what revolves around what.


I personally have a hard time believing something I can't even understand.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Yes I have looked into quantum mechanics. It is very interesting. But lately I have been reading "Relativity Visualized" by Lewis Carroll Epstein. It's just that I think there are flaws in the thinking behind the theory to begin with. Like the moving clock slowing for instance. Who is to say which perspective is the one moving? Both individuals can claim to be the one at rest, with the other moving. So which clock actually slows? You always get two different answers and only one at most can really be correct.
The responses youve been getting should tell you the flaws are in your
thinking.i
 
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