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History of Science
Photo Credit: http://zumaworld.blogspot.com/2010/08/21th-century-mission-tame-gravity.html
Einstein's theory of relativity provides a unified theory that gravity is a geometric form of space and time, or spacetime. The photo portrays the existence and direction of gravity on Earth.
Jeffrey Jackson, Staff Reporter
October 19, 2011
Filed under Opinion
Throughout history, men have yearned for the truth: the truth to what we are and how we got here. But, the original ideals that man has contemplated have turned into religions and philosophies. Now, after thousands of years of religion, wars, and evolution, our modern generation may actually see the true answers to the world – through science.
The word “science” itself is Latin for “knowledge” and is deemed the mathematical in-depth study of nature and its physical appearance. Experiments in natural sciences began many years ago. Within the time span of those 300 years, we have become so technologically advanced that even our younger generations cannot keep up. Fifty years ago, computers would cost around two billion dollars just to generate. Now, we can walk into any local store and buy a portable telephone with twice as much computer power for under $200. The future is unpredictable, but with science, hypothesis is conclusive. Who knows how far we will be? We could experience a natural disaster and allow the sciences of man to fall. Or, as 2001: A Space Odyssey portrays, we may have a general civilization in the depths of space. It is up to us to continue this technological revolution.
Albert Einstein is an individual who lived for the advancement of science. The Franklin Institute claims that he lived a very timid childhood. They say that he felt terribly secluded from others around him, and he knew at an early age that reality wasn’t what it seemed. During his teenage years, he went on a personal expedition to understand science and mathematics. Reading books and discovering truth on his own, he was able to develop his own theories and expand his intellectuality. Because of this, Einstein had the ability to share his thoughts with a world searching for answers.
We’ve heard of Einstein’s scientific equation E=MC2, but do we actually understand it? This famous theory has introduced a new way of looking at the energy we are made of. It explains that energy and mass are actually equivalent; they are different forms of the same thing. In this concept, the mass of your body is the measure of its energy content. E is energy, M is mass, and C is the speed of light. It is not formed around any specific form of measurement; it is simply a way to state the theoretical idea that energy and mass are equal.
Another scientific breakthrough that Einstein produced was his theory of general relativity. This is a concept that turned the scientific theory of gravity into a mathematical one as well, thus giving gravity a factual existence. According to www.ScienceTimeline.net, Isaac Newton originally produced the concept of gravity but claimed that time was an object that was thrown into existence by a higher being. Einstein provides a unified theory that gravity is a geometric form of space and time, or spacetime. This theory has led to the studies of many other theories that now exist because of the idea of spacetime.
Newton thought up the modern idea of the evolution of man. He generated the theory that we evolved from apes, which takes the question of where we came from to a whole different level of science. PCHS teacher Mr. Anthony Whisenand supports this theory, saying, “It has to do with the idea of the survival of the fittest; the strongest species will prevail.” This is especially true in the idea of the future and the past. If apes were the dominant species, with the best tactics of survival, it would make sense that they would evolve into more intelligent beings. Mr. Whisenand introduced an interesting concept to me: one day, when civilization falls, who will be left? It seems that the ones who survive in the jungles are mentally and physically strongest. Not even a civilization falling would affect the ones living in the jungles and forests, which means it all comes back to Newton’s theory of evolution: survival of the fittest.
Modern-day scientists have begun research on the idea of time travel. It is a challenging obstacle to tackle, but with today’s technology, anything is achievable. Ever since time was deemed irrelevant and nonexistent by Einstein, scientists have been able to produce theories on how time travel is possible. If you can travel around the Earth faster than the speed of light and return to your destination as planned, you will have traveled past the rate of time. Our perception of time is gained through the speed of light. If we can exceed this rate and find ourselves traveling faster than light speed, we end up seconds, possibly years, into the future or the past.
See, humans have evolved to allow time to be a measured dimension in their lives. We use it constantly, but really, it’s all part of the fourth dimension that we cannot fathom throughout our daily lives. As I mentioned before, time and space are together. Without time, space cannot exist; without space, time cannot exist. Time may be hypothetical, but it exists in the idea of space. When you realize that these two conjoin, you can contemplate the possibility of time travel.
These are only the most influential theories that allow you to personally develop your own. Anyone can do it. Einstein lived the average childhood with an average dream. He ended up being one of the most influential scientists on this planet. Mr. Whisenand took an interest in the sciences at an early age; he admired the science that surrounds all of us. Because of this interest throughout his life, he made a living with it. So, if you take an interest in something you think is unachievable, science can tell you that anything is possible with action. Well, at least that’s my hypothesis.
The speed of light in a certain transparent material is 58.2% of the speed of light in vacuum. What is the index of refraction of the material?
Answer by inpsite 1919
(58.2/100)*3e8=174600000
3e8/174600000=1.7182 or1.72