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Home » Messageboard » When the laws of physics pack up » Message 3353001

[challenge entry] A singularity

Physics breaksdown during a singularity. Not funny, but true.

From the When the laws of physics pack up challenge. See all 348 entries (closed)

(Animal, Sun 20 Jun 2004, 8:57, archived)
# Ah, but how do we know it breaks down?
Who's to say that's not exactly what physics is supposed to do, and we just haven't figured out the rules governing such situations yet?
Eh?
Eh?
(I helped save b3ta! friendlyfire, Sun 20 Jun 2004, 9:09, archived)
# Well obviously the universe isn't broken in a singularity,
but our models of it are (which are what the "laws of Physics" are). The Universe is what it is and we (as clever apes) try to build better and better models for it.
E = mc^2 is just an equation, it just happens to be one that seems to model some aspect of reality well enough to let us make useful predictions about photons or nuclear reactions.
(I helped save b3ta! Hagbard ... it's been a long time., Sun 20 Jun 2004, 9:13, archived)
# Hurrah for the Scientific Method
"I believe X. Therefore, I'll assume X, try to prove that, and if I can't, then X will do until something better comes along."

Is clearly a more sensible approach than,

"I believe X. If you do not, I will have you stoned to death, or burnt, or some other thing I haven't thought of yet."
(I helped save b3ta! friendlyfire, Sun 20 Jun 2004, 9:20, archived)
# thats the ideal scientific method
doesn't really happen - scientists will defend their own theories with all they have in order to protect their reputations

it hasn't got to real stoning yet, but metaphorically...
(I helped save b3ta! Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Sun 20 Jun 2004, 11:14, archived)
# pfft
thats not an accurate representation of 4d space-time. Get it right.
(I helped save b3ta! Paper Tiger, Sun 20 Jun 2004, 10:19, archived)