Things that keep me awake at night....

[Guest]

Howdy guys,

Ok, first off, what I am about to say does not really keep me awake at night lol, but it is one of a few things I have often thought about and wondered others opinions on. So......I hope that I word it in a way that makes sense and would like to know ya'lls thoughts on "Things that keep me awake at night" lol.

From earth, we see a star, we are told that the light we see is 5 million yrs old due to the distance of the star from the earth. Orbiting around that star is a planet.

Now, theoretically, if we could see the planet here on earth, the image of the planet would also be 5 million yrs old.

My question is.......

"If man could build a telescope strong enough to see "Real time" events on that planet, could we then see various points in the history of that planet by adjusting the strength of the telescope"?

So, what are your thoughts on the telescope question?

And secondly, If you were to build a spherical room, mirrored on the inside with a single light dangling from the ceiling, and you turn on the light, we all know the light produced by the light would reflect off the walls of the room, my question is, would the room go dark if you turned out that light, or would the light already made by the bulb, continue to be reflected inside the room once the bulb was turned off?

Like I said, these dont really kep me awake at night so dont call the men with the butterfly nets just yet lol. These are just 2 of the things I have thought of in the past that make for some strange discussions.

Have a good day and i look forward to ya'lls opinions and thoughts (on the questions.....not your opinions or thoughts on me lol).

Greg

[Guest]

Howdy guys' date=' [/i']Ok, first off, what I am about to say does not really keep me awake at night lol, but it is one of a few things I have often thought about and wondered others opinions on. So......I hope that I word it in a way that makes sense and would like to know ya'lls thoughts on "Things that keep me awake at night" lol.

From earth, we see a star, we are told that the light we see is 5 million yrs old due to the distance of the star from the earth. Orbiting around that star is a planet.

Now, theoretically, if we could see the planet here on earth, the image of the planet would also be 5 million yrs old.

My question is.......

"If man could build a telescope strong enough to see "Real time" events on that planet, could we then see various points in the history of that planet by adjusting the strength of the telescope"?

So, what are your thoughts on the telescope question?

And secondly, If you were to build a spherical room, mirrored on the inside with a single light dangling from the ceiling, and you turn on the light, we all know the light produced by the light would reflect off the walls of the room, my question is, would the room go dark if you turned out that light, or would the light already made by the bulb, continue to be reflected inside the room once the bulb was turned off?

Like I said, these dont really kep me awake at night so dont call the men with the butterfly nets just yet lol. These are just 2 of the things I have thought of in the past that make for some strange discussions.

Have a good day and i look forward to ya'lls opinions and thoughts (on the questions.....not your opinions or thoughts on me lol).

Greg

Interesting points GW and certainly food for thought!!

The first one doesn't seem to be much of an issue to me as the light has the same distance to travel no matter how strong the telescope is so the answer is No. The only way you would see the effect you describe is if you have telescopes at differrent distances from the planet.

Then, of course the benefits could not be realised as communication between the telescopes could not be faster than light anyway!!

The second one is not quite so straightforward. I can see your point that the light should not have anywhere to be absorbed so should, theoretically, remain in the sphere.

We need a physisist here!!

At this rate we will be onto the theory of relativity and perpetual motion!!

[Guest]

Howdy Bunker,

Well, Like I said, these things really dont keep me up at night although that was a catchy title for the thread.

I occassionally come up with these things and mention them to people at work, for the most part, we have some very interesting conversations develope from them.

As for the first one I mentioned about the telescope, I have heard thoughts from both sides.... some people think long and hard and think that "yes, you might indeed be able to see different parts of the "planet in questions" history by adjusting such a powerful telescope, while others have stated your point about the speed of light being constant and therefore that "effect" couldnt happen. However, I have also had people relate the concentration of light which would occur to the effect that a magnifying glass has on a sunbeam which vastly accelerates the radiant light as well as the "see able" light (thats why the pinpoint of light looks so much brighter to the eye as well as producing heat) to that of the aforementioned telescope.

Whatever the answer might actually be, really doesnt matter, this is just an "exercise of the mind" and something that may provide some insight into how some people think about things.

Now as for the light bulb/spherical mirrored room question, I have had some people say that that light does dissipate after some distance so the room might stay lit for a fraction of a second or so (since light does travel at approx. 187,000 mps) This answer was accompanied by the claim that it would also depend on the intensity of the original light source.

On the other hand, I have also had people say that the light should bounce around in the room indefinitly as long as it doesnt come in contact with anything which could absorb the light.....their point being the bulb in the center of the room would allow the light to be absorbed into its surfaces.

And then, I have also had people look at me really funny once I asked these questions lol.

So, here is another one: You have a pick up truck with a lift platform on the back, you travel down the road at 50 mph, lower the platform to just above the road surface. There is a front wheel drive car which will be moving at 51 mph and will pull its front tires onto the platform.

Now the question is: "Will the front wheel drive car merely pull onto the "lift" at 1 mph? OR will it slam into the back of the truck at 51 mph once the drive wheels pull onto the lift"?

If any of you have questions of this nature, this is the "chit chat" part of the forum after all, so feel free to pose them here.....I promise not to tell the men with the butterfly nets where you are if you promise not to tell them where I am.

Have a good day,

Greg

[Guest]

did you think all of this up all on your own? that is alot of thought. i have similar questions. but good luck with yours.

[Guest]

Hi itsa,

Yes, these are all mine, like I said, they dont really "keep me awake at night", but some people might think that I "have too much free time". lol

Lets hear some of your thoughts, it doesnt have to be anything deep or even philosophical, just something you may have wondered about at some time.

Have a good day,

Greg

[Guest]

The last one to me doesn't seem to be much of an issue. The wheels of the car are spinning at whatever rotational speed is required to create traveling at 51 mph in relation to the road at the point just before touching the ramp.

When they do touch the ramp they are travelling at the same speed so the car wil be pulled into the back of the truck at 51 mph.

There will be some significant decelleration though as the ramp is not moving relative to the wheels so they will skid as soon as they touch.

Think of it the other way around. If the front wheels were on the ramp being pulled by the truck and the car dropped off the back. The wheels would be rotating slowly backwards as the car came off the ramp until they touched the road when they would instantly be required to be spinning at 50 mph.

It is good to get the grey matter active and well excercised, I think it is as important is physical excercise and often neglected!!

[Guest]

too early for all this..... my head hurts... need a coffee

[Guest]

From earth, we see a star, we are told that the light we see is 5 million yrs old due to the distance of the star from the earth. Orbiting around that star is a planet.

Now, theoretically, if we could see the planet here on earth, the image of the planet would also be 5 million yrs old.

My question is.......

"If man could build a telescope strong enough to see "Real time" events on that planet, could we then see various points in the history of that planet by adjusting the strength of the telescope"?

So, what are your thoughts on the telescope question?

Greg

I have to agree with one of the other posts where it was explained that the issue is time vs. distance. A telescope only magnifies the light that is seen. It does not take us across any distance. If that star blew up today, no matter how strong your telescope is you won't see the event until 5 million years from now. Telescopes don't bring you any closer, they just magnify what is already being seen by your eye at that point in time.

[Guest]

Howdy guys' date=' [/i']

And secondly, If you were to build a spherical room, mirrored on the inside with a single light dangling from the ceiling, and you turn on the light, we all know the light produced by the light would reflect off the walls of the room, my question is, would the room go dark if you turned out that light, or would the light already made by the bulb, continue to be reflected inside the room once the bulb was turned off?



Greg

There is no such thing as a 100% reflective mirror. That is why it appears to go out so fast. On the same thought, the way a laser works is loosely based on this premise. You get charged electrons moving by bouncing them off of a 96% reflective mirror and into a 99% reflective mirror. As they bounce between the two, they pick up more and more energy until they are able to break through the 96% reflective mirror and thus "lase". At least that is how your tube lasers work. Diodes which are much smaller and are your laser pen types are slightly different in how they are able to generate a laser.

Bob

[Guest]

So, here is another one: You have a pick up truck with a lift platform on the back, you travel down the road at 50 mph, lower the platform to just above the road surface. There is a front wheel drive car which will be moving at 51 mph and will pull its front tires onto the platform.

Now the question is: "Will the front wheel drive car merely pull onto the "lift" at 1 mph? OR will it slam into the back of the truck at 51 mph once the drive wheels pull onto the lift"?

Greg

If there is a smooth transition, it should ride up.

[Guest]

Ok here is one. I hope I can lay this out so it does not confuse anyone. A fly is hovering in a car. Instantly, the car accelerates to "x" miles per hour or km per hour... Does the fly get slammed into the back window of the car? Or does the fly accelerate along with the air in the car and does not change its position inside the car?

[Guest]

Ok here is one. I hope I can lay this out so it does not confuse anyone. A fly is hovering in a car. Instantly' date=' the car accelerates to "x" miles per hour or km per hour... Does the fly get slammed into the back window of the car? Or does the fly accelerate along with the air in the car and does not change its position inside the car?[/quote']It does the opposite to what you would do if you were free standing in a bus doing 30mph just before it hit the proverbial brick wall.

[Guest]

Howdy Bob (Tailspin),

I made an observation just like yours just the other day with the exception that it wasnt a fly, but a red wasp "outside" of my truck close to my window. As I sped up, the wasp kept up with me, facing my window until I had reached almost 40 mph and he backed away from the window and was caught in the Passing air which was rushing past the side of the truck.

This was the event that got me to thinking about things which lead to this thread.

To answer your question, The fly would continue to fly around the inside of your vehicle undisturbed by the acceleration.

Your scenario is similar to an example which Einstien used to demonstrate his theory of relativity. He stated that if two people where on a train moving "North" at 50 mph and the person at the rear of the train car threw a ball forward at 10 mph to the other person in the front of the car, the ball would travel forward at 10 mph to those two people. HOWEVER to an individual standing outside of the train, beside the tracks, the ball would be moving at sixty mph. It all depends on the objects relation to yourself or others as to what effect is observed.

To everyone else, glad to see ya'll are getting in on this, like I said, thoughts such as this might get you a few strange looks now and again, but they are good for getting your brain wamed up.....especially if you had gotten that first cup of coffee down lol.

Have a good day,

Greg