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Author Topic:   Is the speed of light constant between galaxies?
AZPaul3
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Posts: 8513
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.3


Message 26 of 66 (679829)
11-16-2012 12:23 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by nwr
11-15-2012 9:13 AM


Constant Speed of Light
One of the things that Einstein taught us, was there there can be no universal measuring scale. How we measure things, such as speed, will depend on our inertial frame.
The question, on whether the speed of light is constant, would seem to require a universal scale.
For all other objects this is correct.
But, Einstein's great insight was that this is in fact not the case for light.
Every frame of reference will measure the same speed of light in a vaccuum and there is only the one value that can be measured for that speed all regardless of any frame.
Edited by AZPaul3, : clarity - I hope

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by nwr, posted 11-15-2012 9:13 AM nwr has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 32 by nwr, posted 11-16-2012 4:20 PM AZPaul3 has replied

  
AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8513
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.3


Message 34 of 66 (679955)
11-16-2012 6:39 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by nwr
11-16-2012 4:20 PM


Re: Constant Speed of Light
It is unlikely that the OP was asking about standardizing principles. So I wanted to know what he thought he was asking about.
Oh. I can see that. I are just so good at comoo ... commo ... at reading.
You are right, however. "c" is about as constant as you can get. Because c is constant in a vaccuum, everywhere, at all times, from every frame, it does let us build the needed transformations between units is differing systems. Whether we measure in kilometers per second or pinars per mosax we will achieve the same value when the units are properly transformed.
What the OP seems to be missing is that light follows the spacetime curvature created by the presence of matter whether normal or dark. Everything follows that same path, even neutrinos, just not as fast as photons.
I think he is trying to take the concept behind gravitational lensing to an unevidenced extreme.
Edited by AZPaul3, : I will now stop second gussing my proofreading leave this as it is warts and all.

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 Message 32 by nwr, posted 11-16-2012 4:20 PM nwr has seen this message but not replied

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 Message 35 by cavediver, posted 11-16-2012 6:53 PM AZPaul3 has replied

  
AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8513
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.3


Message 36 of 66 (679964)
11-16-2012 7:11 PM
Reply to: Message 35 by cavediver
11-16-2012 6:53 PM


Re: Constant Speed of Light
No, not true.
I yield to the details.

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 Message 35 by cavediver, posted 11-16-2012 6:53 PM cavediver has not replied

  
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