The forum discussion centers on the implications of the Casimir Effect on classical physics, particularly Galilean, Newtonian, and Einsteinian theories. It is established that the Casimir Effect, which has been experimentally confirmed since the late 20th century, demonstrates that vacuum energy can be converted into work, challenging the notion that all objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum. Participants argue that while classical physics holds at short distances, it fails over longer distances, suggesting that mass affects the rate of fall in a gravitational field. The conversation highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of vacuum states and their implications in quantum mechanics.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, researchers in quantum mechanics, educators in classical physics, and anyone interested in the foundational principles of motion and gravity in relation to quantum effects.
No. The Casimir effect is about what happens when two conducting plates are placed close to one another, it doesn’t matter where the plates are.Gfellow said:Would the experiment be any different if performed in intergalactic space?
In the absence of other forces.Gfellow said:When it came to two different weight masses, they all proceeded - as done today - on the assumption that these masses fell at the same fall-rate towards the Earth.
Sort of like, Galileo not letting go of the balls? A powerful argument.mfb said:In the absence of other forces.
See my example of holding an object in your hand. It not only falls at a different rate: It doesn't fall down at all!
Following your arguments this must certainly shake the foundations of gravity! It does not, because another force is involved.
Gfellow said:Summary:: Does the Casimir Effect experiment debunk Galilean/Newtonian/Einstinian physics of motion?
Quantum mechanics has argued for years that space is not a vacuum.
Arguments attempting to brush aside quantum mechanics vacuum theory claiming, it's 'just a quantum mathematical theory' can now put to rest.
In this article, laboratory experimentation demonstrates that the Casimir Effect can convert vacuum energy into work.
Does this not have huge implications for the most basic tenets of Galilean/Newtonian/Einstinian physics? That all objects fall at the same rate in a space vacuum?
If space is an expression of pressure everywhere, then - in space - there is nowhere you can roll two balls of different mass where the larger mass does not arrive sooner than the lesser - providing you make the ramp distance long enough.
Again, the ball and feather experiment works fine - providing you don't drop them from 1000 miles above the Moon (for example.)
Galilean/Newtonian/Einstinian physics works fine at 'short' distances, but breaks down over sufficiently longer distances.
The argument that the effect is so small as to be insignificant is an ill-conceived reply when one considers that the minute discrepancy observed in the precession of Mercury was a foundational observation of the verification of Einstein's paper of Relativity published in 1916.
So doesn't the Casimir Effect demonstrate that the given density of space is irrelevant, since all space has density?
The two dropped objects of different mass anywhere in the Universe will not arrive at the same time, providing the drop is given sufficient time for measurement.
In this experiment below, watch balls of varying sizes dropped in a dense viscous liquid.
Drop the same objects in a near-vacuum ANYWHERE IN THE SPARSEST VOLUME OF SPACE, and let them fall towards a third more powerful gravitational field for thousand years, won't the heavier object will arrive first?
Thoughts? Flaw in the observation or reasoning?
Stephen Goodfellow
Youre welcome and thanks for that. I'm going to actually close this to prevent piling-on.Gfellow said:I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback; I always enjoy the active minds that inhabit this forum. Let's consider this topic closed and move on.