Terrestrial phenomena significantly influenced by GR?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the influence of general relativity (GR) on various natural terrestrial phenomena, exploring both theoretical implications and practical examples. Participants examine how GR affects timekeeping, electromagnetic phenomena, and other aspects of physics relevant to Earth.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that almost everything is influenced by general relativity.
  • Another participant notes that atomic clocks demonstrate significant differences in ticking rates based on elevation, highlighting the need for corrections in timekeeping due to gravitational effects.
  • A participant mentions the impact of GR on defining coordinate time over the Earth's surface, particularly in relation to the Earth's rotation and the behavior of clocks transported around it.
  • There is a discussion about the influence of relativistic effects on electromagnetic phenomena, particularly in relation to hydrogen atoms and their fine structure due to spin-orbit interaction.
  • One participant humorously connects their personal experience to relativistic effects, while also suggesting that measuring electromagnetic emissions at different gravitational potentials could reveal gravitational Doppler shifts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the extent and nature of GR's influence on terrestrial phenomena, with some asserting broad impacts while others focus on specific examples. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the full scope of GR's effects.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions related to the measurements of time and electromagnetic phenomena, as well as the complexities introduced by gravitational effects and the Earth's rotation. These factors contribute to the nuanced understanding of GR's influence.

Loren Booda
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What natural terrestrial phenomena are significantly influenced by general relativity?
 
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When I lift my legs up I fall down?

The sky is dark at night?

Garth
 
Just about everything.
 
How about affect on electromagnetic phenomena?
 
Loren Booda said:
What natural terrestrial phenomena are significantly influenced by general relativity?

Atomic clocks are sensitive enough that they "tick" noticably different depending on their elevation. There is a coordiinate time known as TAI time that is defined by averages the contributions of many different atomic clocks - it is necessary to correct for the altitude of each contributor.

Also, the issue of defining a coordinate time over the Earth's surface involves considerations of General Relativity since the Earth rotates. If you transport a clock around the rotating Earth, it won't read the same as a clock that stayed behind, no matter how slowly. This was actually done in a famous experiment.
 
Loren Booda said:
How about affect on electromagnetic phenomena?

Well,sure. All the hydogen atoms in my brain have a multiplet 'fine structure' (spin-orbit interaction) at every level except l = 0 which is due to relativistic effects. In fact, all of the heavy atoms have an even greater energetic split which is even more noticeable, and at an energy level which can only be determined precisely with full (mental) relativistic treatment.
Maybe that's why they say I have a split personality. Well, at least they can't say I'm degenerate. :smile:

However, these are only SR effects.
For GR effects you'll have to capture & measure the electromagnetic emissions (from my nuclear cranial radioactive decay) at several different terrestrial gravitational potentials and notice the resultant gravitational doppler shifts.
(Please don't reveal your findings. )

Creator :biggrin:
 
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