Winter in June

Marina wrote:

Midsummer is a big deal here in
Finland, but we don't get to celebrate it on the actual day, because the
holiday has been moved to the weekend, so that Friday is officially
Midsummer Eve, though it was really on Monday. Well, at least we get a
three-day weekend. I'm taking the cats to the island this weekend

Do you have midnight sun where you are?

Happy summer solstice to all in the northern hemisphere! (And winter solstice
to those in the south.)

Joyce

Marina wrote:

Midsummer is a big deal here in
Finland, but we don't get to celebrate it on the actual day, because the
holiday has been moved to the weekend, so that Friday is officially
Midsummer Eve, though it was really on Monday. Well, at least we get a
three-day weekend. I'm taking the cats to the island this weekend

Do you have midnight sun where you are?

Happy summer solstice to all in the northern hemisphere! (And winter solstice
to those in the south.)

Joyce

Takayuki wrote:

if the velocity of light through a
vacuum is an absolute constant, and velocity is always relative, then
do two photons traveling towards each other have a relative velocity
of C (the speed of light) or 2C (twice the speed of light)?

I don't think photons have relative velocity - that's the theory of
special relativity. Everything else is relative, but light speed is
constant.

But I find that, even though I have a good head for science in general,
relativity theory is totally mind-boggling to me! So I might have that
somewhat wrong...

Joyce

Takayuki wrote:

if the velocity of light through a
vacuum is an absolute constant, and velocity is always relative, then
do two photons traveling towards each other have a relative velocity
of C (the speed of light) or 2C (twice the speed of light)?

I don't think photons have relative velocity - that's the theory of
special relativity. Everything else is relative, but light speed is
constant.

But I find that, even though I have a good head for science in general,
relativity theory is totally mind-boggling to me! So I might have that
somewhat wrong...

Joyce

Takayuki wrote:

if the velocity of light through a
vacuum is an absolute constant, and velocity is always relative, then
do two photons traveling towards each other have a relative velocity
of C (the speed of light) or 2C (twice the speed of light)?

I don't think photons have relative velocity - that's the theory of
special relativity. Everything else is relative, but light speed is
constant.

But I find that, even though I have a good head for science in general,
relativity theory is totally mind-boggling to me! So I might have that
somewhat wrong...

Joyce

wrote:

Takayuki wrote:

if the velocity of light through a
vacuum is an absolute constant, and velocity is always relative, then
do two photons traveling towards each other have a relative velocity
of C (the speed of light) or 2C (twice the speed of light)?

I don't think photons have relative velocity - that's the theory of
special relativity. Everything else is relative, but light speed is
constant.

But I find that, even though I have a good head for science in general,
relativity theory is totally mind-boggling to me! So I might have that
somewhat wrong...

That actually makes sense, thanks!

Relativity actually makes some sort of sense compared to someother
things like quantum physics. The way electrons can behave as either
particle or wave depending on whether it's being observed or not I
think shows that thinking of particles such as photons and electrons
as physical entities is probably too simplistic. Their odd behavior
immediately tells you that they have a complex relationship with the
space in which they reside. It seems to me that subatomic particles
are not independent entities, but are merely superficial symptoms of
certain irregularities in space and time.

wrote:

Takayuki wrote:

if the velocity of light through a
vacuum is an absolute constant, and velocity is always relative, then
do two photons traveling towards each other have a relative velocity
of C (the speed of light) or 2C (twice the speed of light)?

I don't think photons have relative velocity - that's the theory of
special relativity. Everything else is relative, but light speed is
constant.

But I find that, even though I have a good head for science in general,
relativity theory is totally mind-boggling to me! So I might have that
somewhat wrong...

That actually makes sense, thanks!

Relativity actually makes some sort of sense compared to someother
things like quantum physics. The way electrons can behave as either
particle or wave depending on whether it's being observed or not I
think shows that thinking of particles such as photons and electrons
as physical entities is probably too simplistic. Their odd behavior
immediately tells you that they have a complex relationship with the
space in which they reside. It seems to me that subatomic particles
are not independent entities, but are merely superficial symptoms of
certain irregularities in space and time.

wrote:

Takayuki wrote:

if the velocity of light through a
vacuum is an absolute constant, and velocity is always relative, then
do two photons traveling towards each other have a relative velocity
of C (the speed of light) or 2C (twice the speed of light)?

I don't think photons have relative velocity - that's the theory of
special relativity. Everything else is relative, but light speed is
constant.

But I find that, even though I have a good head for science in general,
relativity theory is totally mind-boggling to me! So I might have that
somewhat wrong...

That actually makes sense, thanks!

Relativity actually makes some sort of sense compared to someother
things like quantum physics. The way electrons can behave as either
particle or wave depending on whether it's being observed or not I
think shows that thinking of particles such as photons and electrons
as physical entities is probably too simplistic. Their odd behavior
immediately tells you that they have a complex relationship with the
space in which they reside. It seems to me that subatomic particles
are not independent entities, but are merely superficial symptoms of
certain irregularities in space and time.

wrote
Marina wrote:

Midsummer is a big deal here in
Finland, but we don't get to celebrate it on the actual day, because
the
holiday has been moved to the weekend, so that Friday is officially
Midsummer Eve, though it was really on Monday. Well, at least we get a
three-day weekend. I'm taking the cats to the island this weekend

Do you have midnight sun where you are?

No, not quite. The sun sets for a few hours here in southern Finland, but up
north it shines all through the night. To my shame I must confess that I've
never seen the midnight sun.

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

wrote
Marina wrote:

Midsummer is a big deal here in
Finland, but we don't get to celebrate it on the actual day, because
the
holiday has been moved to the weekend, so that Friday is officially
Midsummer Eve, though it was really on Monday. Well, at least we get a
three-day weekend. I'm taking the cats to the island this weekend

Do you have midnight sun where you are?

No, not quite. The sun sets for a few hours here in southern Finland, but up
north it shines all through the night. To my shame I must confess that I've
never seen the midnight sun.

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki