Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science

From: robert j. kolker (nowhere_at_nowhere.net)
Date: 02/18/05 

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:24:43 -0500

Lester Zick wrote:

>
>
> Actually not, Bob, as per Pioneer 10/11 anomaly.

The anomaly can be explained in a number of ways. It, by itself, is not
a falsification, any more than the anomalous motion of Neptune was a
falsification. The question is still open.

For instance

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=270

Some space scientists are calling for a deep-space mission to try to
understand this behavior - called the Pioneer anomaly. Mundane reasons
for this effect have been brought forward; it could be due to leakage of
gaseous fuel from the thrusters, for example. However, some scientists
wonder if the Pioneer anomaly may be due to some previously unknown
forces that are only noticed outside the solar system.

-------
The question is not resolved until possible "normal" explanations for
the deceleration have been investigated and eliminated. The question of
a fuel leak could be easily determined by sending another probe. If it
declerates in an unaccountable way, perhaps there are bodys far out that
account for the deceleration. Perhaps not. On the other hand if the next
problem behaves "normally", i.e. as predicted by the theory, we can
assume safely that something peculiar and specific happened to to first
Pioneer problem

Until these investigations are complete one cannot conlcude definitively
that the theory is in error (although it very well might be).

The anomalous precessions of the perihellia of Mercury and Venus have
been consistently observed over a period of many years, by many
different people using many different instruments. So the anomalous
motion of Mercury and Venus are not due to an observational glitch.
Furthermore no additional bodies have been found near the sun which can
account for the anomalous motion. Couple that we a theory that predicts
the motions spang on with no additional assumptions and you very
reasonably conclude that Newton's law is wrong.

Bob Kolker

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science
    ... understand this behavior - called the Pioneer anomaly. ... The anomalous precessions of the perihellia of Mercury and Venus have ... account for the anomalous motion. ... Bob Kolker ...
    (sci.cognitive)
  • Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science
    ... understand this behavior - called the Pioneer anomaly. ... The anomalous precessions of the perihellia of Mercury and Venus have ... account for the anomalous motion. ... Bob Kolker ...
    (sci.math)