From: Thomas McCabe (pphysics141@gmail.com)
Date: Mon Nov 12 2007 - 15:07:36 MST
On Nov 12, 2007 4:37 PM, Damien Broderick <thespike@satx.rr.com> wrote:
> At 02:39 PM 11/12/2007 -0600, Norman Noman wrote:
>
> > > > should be able to explain general relativity to an eight year old
> >
> >Well, speaking from personal experience, I can explain general
> >relativity in nontechnical terms ...
> >
> >When I was first taught that when travelling near the speed of light,
> >distances become shorter and the rest of the universe gets slower
> >(from your point of view), it didn't make sense to me, because if from
> >my perspective it only takes a day to get to alpha centauri
>
> What's this got to do with GR, the theory of gravitation? You're
> talking about SR, and I agree than a smart 8 year old could
> understand SR. Tensors, maybe not.
>
> Damien Broderick
>
>
It's quite possible to get a decent understanding of GR without
knowing all the tensor math. Without the detailed math, you can't
really do complex calculations, but you can at least understand how
the theory works.
- Tom
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