X-Message-Number: 19136
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: Speed of light not a constant.
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 11:48:01 -0700

In Message #19130 Joseph W. Morgan wrote in part, "The idea that a
democratic vote was taken to assign the speed of light a number is absurd
and indicates a lack of understanding of both physics and the scientific
method.

The speed of light in vacuum (c = 3*10^8 m/sec) is a constant of fundamental
importance in physics. The speed of light is measured. The results do not
vary within experimental error. It can also be derived from other physical
relationships.  The theoretical predictions and the experimental
measurements match.  There are no "serious issues" involved regarding the
speed of light.  It is proven both theoretically and experimentally. "

Not according to http://www.ldolphin.org/constc.shtml

I. PAPER PUBLISHED IN GALILEAN ELECTRODYNAMICS
"IS THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT CONSTANT IN TIME?"
by Alan Montgomery, Mathematician
218 McCurdy Drive, Kanata, Ontario K2L 2L6 Canada
and
Lambert Dolphin, Physicist
1103 Pomeroy Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051
ABSTRACT

The possibility that the velocity of light, c, is not a fixed constant is
reconsidered by statistical analysis of the historical measurements
collected from four sources. Our hypothesis testing of the selected data
shows the measured value of the velocity of light has decreased over the
past 250 years. Furthermore, the probability of some systematic or
experimental problem was found to be low. Brief analysis of constants other
than c suggests that those constants which involve atomic phenomena and
units of time are also apparently changing. A third set of constants with no
obvious dependence on c were analyzed and show no apparent variability with
time. A variable velocity of light implies that atomic clocks and dynamical
clocks do not run in step-that atomic time has been decreasing with respect
to dynamical time.

Published in Galilean Electrodynamics, Vol. 4, no. 5, Sept/Oct 1993; PO Box
545, Storrs, CT 06268-0545. The c-data set is available in a tab-delineated
text version, cdata.txt. A full list of 193 published c measurements with
references, and the authors' selected best data set is also available: Data
Tabulation: Velocity of Light These data are as complete as we could make
them. If additional data points not listed in these tables is known, please
contact one of the authors.

---------------------------------------

Without resorting to attacking the person but dealing with only the
evidence, I would suggest again that current scientific dogma on this issue
is far from "proven".

(I am quite tired of "scientism" attacking the person as a political
technique to avoid deading with important evidence.  "Just the facts,
Ma'am" - Sgt Joe Friday).

Just one white crow kills the "all crows are black" belief system.

Not my fault.

The relevance of this to the Cryonet was in regard to the limits for
immortality purportedly imposed by the certainty that the speed of light is
a barrier to communication and motion.  If light speed is not a constant,
this has important implications for the assumption of other issues so
related.

George Smith
CI member and Immortalist

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