Re: Evil Twin Paradox

On Aug 8, 6:16 pm, "harry" <harald.vanlintelButNotT...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
"Alen" <al...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

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On Aug 8, 1:12 am, "harry" <harald.vanlintelButNotT...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
"Alen" <al...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

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On Aug 7, 5:41 pm, "harry" <harald.vanlintelButNotT...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
"Alen" <al...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

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[...]

Then what do they believe? Do you agree with me
that Minkowski spacetime is not an actual, physical reality?

Minkowski diagrams are calculation aids. Many physicists simply want to
calculate and have stopped trying to make sense of things, and tend to
take
things at face-value. For example Feynman even claimed: "I hope you can
accept Nature as she is - absurd."

If, indeed, physics has taken a wrong turn somewhere,
such a situation would be inevitable.

It's not necessarily a wrong turn to use models that work but don't make
sense - it's surely better than no model!
Of course, when I have the choice between a model that makes sense to me and
one that makes no sense to me at all, the choice is clear.





It should therefore be
taken to be a symptom of the existence of at least one
erroneous concept. I have identified the physical reality
of Minkowski spacetime as an erroneous concept,
though I no longer expect anyone who still adheres to it to
be flexible enough to question it. Until erroneous concepts
are eliminated, however, physics must continue to be
paradoxical in respect of such a concept.

If spacetime rotations are not supposed to be
physically real, then arbitrary fulcra of rotations
can be used as desired.

No, the rotation is determined by the Lorentz factor (and thus by the
speed).
Minkowski diagrams provide a handy graphical means to directly match
clock
readings and distances of one inertial coordinate system with those of
another inertial system that moves relative to it (note that neither
system
rotates!).

[...]

Regards,
Harald

Of course it is determined by the speed. I have never
questioned that. My question concerns the FULCRUM of
the spacetime rotation.

OK, the point of rotation. That is conveniently done around the origin for
convenience. Ashttp://origins.colorado.edu/~ajsh/sr/hypercubel.htmlputs
it, a spacetime rotation is a Lorentz transformation.

But now you apparently say, like
I do, that there is no real, physical spacetime rotation!?
Do you accept, therefore, that length contraction requires
a different physical explanation than that of a spacetime
rotation?

Sure - assuming that with "physical" you mean the question of what may be
"really" happening.

Perhaps if you were to acknowledge that it does, you
would become a 'crackpot' and destroy your reputation?

Even allowing that Minkowski spacetime is only a 'handy
graphical means' must be very dangerous for you, unless
you have the reputation of a 'crackpot' or 'crank' already,
like I have.

Scientists do accept different opinions about hidden reality and rarely do
name-calling. For example Mach didn't believe in atoms.

Or is it the case that, secretly, numbers of physicists really
know that there is no real Minkowski spacetime, but are not
able to admit it publicly?

As it belongs to philosophy, the question of "real" is rarely discussed
among physicists. "Shut up and calculate!" :-)

Harald

On the whole, a rarely revealing answer, I think. You
manage to admit much on behalf of physicists, without
being categorical about anything in particular.

But, again, on the whole, a sad reflection on the quality of
the science of physics at the present time.

Alen


.

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