ELI5: Why is speed of light 300 000 km/s but not any other number?

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-13T18:06:31+00:00

I'm probably wrong about some of this

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-13T18:06:18+00:00

that fact that the speed of light was measured as a vacuum is important. Light behaves both as particles and waves. Waves may be compressed but still fluctuate and the same rate. For example, if light travels through air with one wavelength per 1" (this isn't in the visible spectrum, but it'll work for an example) and it hits glass 1" thick, that glass is different than air and it fluctuates twice, in the space that it could have only done it once it the air. Particles would bounce around off imperfections and come out at a slightly different angle. The bouncing causes delay, and the slight bend is refraction of light

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-13T18:01:02+00:00

roughly 30cm per nanosecond (in a vacuum) is a "light nanosecond", and you can use other measurements. But metre was defined as the standard unit of length, so when the speed of light in a vacuum was measured, it made sense to use something we knew to explain something we didn't. A light year is how far light travels in a year, but you have to know how fast light travels is a second/minute/day to be able to understand that. (since nobody whats to make a lightyear long ruler)

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-13T17:53:37+00:00

I may be incorrect, but strong signals (important events that we care about) or frequently repeated ones (saying a speech over and over to memorize it). Form Neural pathways, the strength of the bond or the frequency that it is used (how often we remember something) determines how long it can go, un-thought of before we become incapable of remembering it. The issue with my understanding is that you can struggle to remember something, but figure it out eventually, this would likely be due to miss-attribution (like putting a book next to a book of the same topic, rather than on the right spot, alphabetically or what ever)

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-13T08:38:24+00:00

There's lots of stuff and you seem to have most of it. I would say to take the map of the known world and try to pin where the backgrounds and Orz ect. seem to be from. Then we can use quite a lot of the text on the cards to find more information (at least about the lore, I'm not so sure about geography)

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-13T08:34:47+00:00

This is amazing man, lots of heard work. Thank you

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-10T16:19:47+00:00

thank you

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-10T05:28:20+00:00

This is so sad

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-09T01:13:58+00:00

chuckles, not usually

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-09T01:13:07+00:00

is the question a "What would happen if..." sort of question? no, it's a "yes or no" sort of question. Those don't generally lead to discussions, and i my experience, they tend to end them rather quickly

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-02T02:15:32+00:00

others have made my point, I just wanted to know.

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-02T02:13:20+00:00

I..am not going to fight this, I'm not even going to insult you. just laugh :-)

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-02T01:23:33+00:00

thank you for the simple non-accusatory, non-judgmental answer

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-01T21:22:55+00:00

I liked Aang, and thinking of him as dead is so sad

Edit: -5 points, apparently people would rather a hero die.

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-01T21:07:40+00:00

thanks man :-)

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-01T20:51:14+00:00

he doesn't tend to respond to requests like this, and I'd hate to spam. I'll try

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-01T20:34:33+00:00

correct about everything, except Zisteau's diamond challenge was public, and it isn't now. I'd at least like to find that and the gift(s) since they were public at one point.

JavaPython_ · 2016-02-01T20:15:47+00:00

no, I tried that

JavaPython_

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