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From: jona@nikhefh.UUCP (Jona Oberski)
Newsgroups: sci.physics,sci.philosophy.tech,sci.research,sci.misc,misc.misc
Subject: Einstein's relativity and daily life
Message-ID: <391@nikhefh.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Sep-87 06:10:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: nikhefh.391
Posted: Fri Sep 25 06:10:33 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Sep-87 20:06:45 EDT
Organization: Nikhef-H, Amsterdam (the Netherlands).
Lines: 36
Keywords: science for the people
Xref: mnetor sci.physics:2277 sci.philosophy.tech:491 sci.research:229 sci.misc:491 misc.misc:1901


What would YOU answer to the following:

Question: Which things - common instruments, consumergoods, etc. - would not
exist if we would not have Einstein's Theory of Relativity: "ETR"?

Some guys want to produce Yet Another Popular Video On Relativity: YAPVOR.
It is intended for the general public, the more general, the better.
They asked the question and I answered: none; promising to ask you too.

I suppose the idea behind the question is clear to you, but let me explain
some interpretations of the question, which are certainly NOT meant.

U1. To unknow ETR is NOT meant to imply that physical 
phenomena would actually be different form the known phenomena.  
U2. To virtually change anything in human history, like ETR,
is NOT meant to imply that EVERYthing could be 
different now (which probably would be the case though).
U3. "Things not existing" are NOT meant to point to Philosophical
Implications of ETR, except perhaps, if they are determinants of many 
people's everyday life. 

I'll be glad with any answer, but please keep in mind these exclusions,
since the YAPVOR makers aim to explain things in terms of everybody's common
experience.

Some answers (and some comments): 
A1. No nuclear energy, nor bombs. (????).
A2. No lasers. (??; hardly common experience).
A3. No high-energy physics research (!!!!; no common experience).

By the way, do you like the idea:
"The only commonly-known physicist's theory is without practical value".

Hope to read from you. Bye now. Jona@nikhefh.uucp
P.S. Please forgive me my Dutch.