OT: Alien Contact - Page 4

Greybeard · #31 February 26th, 2003, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oleg:

quote:
Originally posted by Greybeard:
I don't believe that alien races exist, at least not on a level with humans. This would be inconsistent with a God who created mankind to be in His likeness, and be special in all of creation.

...
Greybeard

Your argument is fallacious: You question the ability of Allmighty to create the very similar race on any other celectial body. After all, Star Treck proved we can interbreed with Klingons, Vulcans, etc. proving we all are the same kind !

If you read carefully, I didn't question the Almighty's ability. I just said it was inconsistent with His nature. God can do whatever he wants. However, he has revealed himself in his word and in nature, and I believe that he is consistent and doesn't change....Greybeard

Fyron · #32 February 26th, 2003, 11:15 PM

Light seems to slow down because the different wavelengths travel at slightly different speeds. When a beam white light (which consists of all colors/wavelengths of visible light) goes from a thin medium to a thick medium (such as from air to water), the faster wavelengths of light seem to have a longer distance to travel, as they are on the outside of the angle of refraction. The slower wavelenghts are on the inside of the turn, and so seem to travel a shorter distance. This gives the appearance of the light slowing down, when in actuality, it does not. I forget the exact mathematical proof that shows that the light did not slow down any.

Fyron · #33 February 26th, 2003, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Greybeard:

quote:
Originally posted by oleg:

quote:
Originally posted by Greybeard:
I don't believe that alien races exist, at least not on a level with humans. This would be inconsistent with a God who created mankind to be in His likeness, and be special in all of creation.

...
Greybeard

Your argument is fallacious: You question the ability of Allmighty to create the very similar race on any other celectial body. After all, Star Treck proved we can interbreed with Klingons, Vulcans, etc. proving we all are the same kind !
If you read carefully, I didn't question the Almighty's ability. I just said it was inconsistent with His nature. God can do whatever he wants. However, he has revealed himself in his word and in nature, and I believe that he is consistent and doesn't change....Greybeard

Should I even go there... yes. The Christian God (and all other religions) is a creation of mankind to explain things that we can not explain otherwise.

[ February 26, 2003, 21:18: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

rdouglass · #34 February 26th, 2003, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I forget the exact mathematical proof that shows that the light did not slow down any.

I don't want to sound crass, but I would be very interested in seeing some evidence to support this postulation. I consider myself well-read and have never encountered any reading to support your position.

EDIT: Yeah, that 'changing medium' thing - its called the 'refractive index'....

[ February 26, 2003, 21:21: Message edited by: rdouglass ]

Aloofi · #35 February 26th, 2003, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
(and all other religions) is a creation of mankind to explain things that we can not explain otherwise.[/QB]

Oh man, I've heard that so many times....

Let me post somthing to light it up a little.

Greybeard · #36 February 26th, 2003, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ragnarok:
Along with Greybeards thought, well not along with it, but sort of against it. I don't believe there is another "spirit realm". All those people you see claming to talk to the dead, or talk to the spirits of ones or read the future or crap like that, I like to call that demons at work.
But like I said, that is how I feel and I'm sure not everyone agrees with that. Which is fine.

Rag: I agree that the activities you list aren't good. However, I belive that there are angels and demons, and yes, the devil. Although we can't see these spiritual beings, they are around us and influence us for good and evil. I also believe that some evil people are aided by demons, just as believers can be aided by God's angels. A person must be very careful to not get caught up in the spiritual realm, as it is easy to be deceived....Greybeard

Fyron · #37 February 26th, 2003, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rdouglass:

quote:
Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I forget the exact mathematical proof that shows that the light did not slow down any.

I don't want to sound crass, but I would be very interested in seeing some evidence to support this postulation. I consider myself well-read and have never encountered any reading to support your position.

EDIT: Yeah, that 'changing medium' thing - its called the 'refractive index'....

It was in my physics book Last year, which is generally accepted as the best physics text book out there. Unfortunately, I only have volume one of that book now, so I can't look it up to relate it to you.

It is all about reference frames. From our reference frame, the light appears to slow down when going into a thicker medium. But from the reference frame of the light, it has not decreased in speed at all. That is what matters more. Our perception is inherently flawed anyways.

Fyron · #38 February 26th, 2003, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Greybeard:

quote:
Originally posted by Ragnarok:
Along with Greybeards thought, well not along with it, but sort of against it. I don't believe there is another "spirit realm". All those people you see claming to talk to the dead, or talk to the spirits of ones or read the future or crap like that, I like to call that demons at work.
But like I said, that is how I feel and I'm sure not everyone agrees with that. Which is fine.

Rag: I agree that the activities you list aren't good. However, I belive that there are angels and demons, and yes, the devil. Although we can't see these spiritual beings, they are around us and influence us for good and evil. I also believe that some evil people are aided by demons, just as believers can be aided by God's angels. A person must be very careful to not get caught up in the spiritual realm, as it is easy to be deceived....Greybeard

I welcome you to join us in the 21st century if you would like to. Its up to you, really.

Mephisto · #39 February 26th, 2003, 11:26 PM

I don't know exactly about the SoL thing but there are many pages out there. Try this one:

http://www.what-is-the-speed-of-ligh...ive-index.html

Suicide Junkie · #40 February 26th, 2003, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
No, light has constant velocity. Different wavelengths travel at marginally different speeds, but it is all constant. Light seeming to slow down in water and such is an optical illusion.

Same thing.
The initial wavefront moving thorugh the material goes right through at the speed of light.
The interference from the secondary EM waves generated by the atoms jostled by the main wave adds up to produce a new wave whos peaks and valleys change position slower than you'd expect.

Look at standing waves on a rope as a slowed down example. You start waving the rope (attached to a wall or a friend on the other side)
You see a succession of waves travel down the rope, hit the wall, and then reflect back, and start to interfere with the later waves you made.
When the two waves interfere in the rope, the total result is a wave that looks like it isn't moving at all.
The energy is still moving along at the normal speed, but the interference causes the illusion of slower (or faster (!)) velocities.
Given appropriate conditions, you can actually make the wave peaks appear to "travel" faster than C, but the far side of the apparatus will not light up until enough time has passed for a beam at speed C to travel the length of the apparatus.