User:LGreg/sandbox/Approaches to Knowledge (LG seminar 2020/21)/Seminar 18/Truth/Truth in physics

Truth in Physics

Truths in physics are fundamentals that most experts in a specific time period agree on. Nowadays, basic truths of physics are proven using experiments and mathematical calculations; it is a rigorous, empirical process and the goal is to find an objective truth. However, in physics, truths are dynamic and truths that are not entirely compatible can coexist.

Paradigm Shifts in Truths in Physics

The Heliocentric Model

An example of a radical paradigm shift in astronomy, a branch of physics, is the acceptance of the heliocentric model, which asserted that the sun is at the center of our solar system . The emergence of this theory, which was developed by Nicolaus Copernicus, marked the beginning of the Scientific Revolution, a time in which science became a separate discipline . During the Scientific Revolution, new ways of scientific thinking were developed, such as a quantitative perspective on the world and experimental, scientific methods. Thus, it could be argued that the adoption of the heliocentric model was a consequence of a paradigm shift in society rather than physics itself, which shows how society plays an important role in the development of truths in physics.

The Theory of Relativity

Another such revolution in physics was the theory of relativity, which disproved classical Newtonian physics and explained phenomena like the orbit of Mercury, which classical physics failed to explain . This new way of seeing the world showed that gravity, space, and time are dependent on each other . However, it did not completely replace Newtonian physics because Newtonian physics is still accurate in most applications concerning objects that are larger than quantum objects and do not travel close to the speed of light; it was accurate enough to make the moon landing possible . Additionally, Newtonian physics is taught in schools because it is more in line with common sense: mass is constant and gravity and space are independent . Thus, it can be said that it is still a truth in physics since it is still widely used, accurate in many situations and accepted as fundamental by most people, only it has been complemented by relativistic physics and quantum physics.

Quantum Physics and Relativity

Relativistic physics and quantum physics are both fundamental parts of physics but they contradict each other to a certain extent: relativistic physics assumes that things are deterministic, meaning that a specific cause yields one specific outcome, while quantum physics is probabilistic ; when an electron is shot through a double slit behind which there is a screen, it is a matter of probability where the electron hits the screen. Due to this fundamental distinction between the two theories, it is not possible to interpret relativistic laws in terms of quantum mechanical laws . Many physicists believe that quantum physics is a more fundamental set of laws than the theory of relativity, which fails to explain how gravity works inside a black hole . The string theory, which is yet to be proven, is supposed to provide a framework for a quantum theory that explains gravity and also works at the most extremes of gravity (e.g. inside black holes) and thus reconciles the theory of relativity with quantum physics . Truths, at least current truths like Newtonian physics, the theory of relativity, and quantum theory, in physics are thus not necessarily true for all of physics but rather apply to certain realms within physics and are proven to work within these realms. This means that truths are not absolute in physics but they certainly are based on objective evidence.

Power and Truth in Physics

The emergence of new truths in physics can have a strong influence on technological developments and society. Eintein's theory of relativity paved the way for the theory of the Big Bang, black holes and the atomic bomb. Quantum mechanics played a role in the development of solar cells, modern microelectronics, and quantum computers, which can solve some problems much faster than normal computers. For example, they can decrypt today's encryption techniques, thus putting private data at risk . Hence, physics is not only influenced by society but it also has a significant influence on society. With this power made available through physics, it is vital that physicists are conscious of the developments they are making and how they could be used.