Mathematicians solve a complex, 120 year-old problem...

[Lul Thyme]

Originally posted by Jon Miller


I wasn't saying that special relativity wasn't used. I was just saying that it wasn't the theory that enabled atomic weapons.

It's like saying that automobiles are an application made possible with advancements in rubber. Sure, those advancements are nice, but automobiles are an application of the advancements in combustion.

This saying that $E = MC^{2}$ is responsible for the atomic bomb is just silly nonsense.

Jon Miller

I'm still not convinced though that the analogy with rubber works.
As far as I know, there was a LOT of theoretical work\calculations done before actually building actual bombs.
Would it be possible to make the nec. calculations without SR?

A car can work (and did work) before rubber, but I thought that mass-energy equivalence was key in many of the necessary calculations in the Manhattan project.

I mean the main idea is that you need a reaction that produces more Neutron that it needs, on average, to get a chain reaction.
I guess you don't need for SR for this.

But without SR, you would be very in the dark about many important details no?

In any case, this isn't that relevant to my initial point.
I even said the atomic bomb was ARGUABLY the first practical application.
What would you consider the first such application then JM?

[Kuciwalker]

The reason LT brings up the atom bomb is because the same advancements that allowed it - in atomic theory - are responsible for much of our other technology, or at least related to it.

[Jon Miller]

All of the theoretical work was atomic physics and engineering.

Anything that uses atomic physics is going to use SR in pretty much the same way, so I don't see your point Kuci?

Jon Miller

[Kuciwalker]

I was responding to Asher.

[Jon Miller]

eh, QED was earlier than I remembered. I suck at numbers. So SR would be more key than I thought, but I would still call it nuclear physics (I should be using nuclear instead of atomic, as atomic is electrons), not of SR.

Jon Miller

[Kuciwalker]

SR was necessary, though. The point being that it was fairly useless when discovered, but fantastically useful later on.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Nikolai


Not the prettiest picture I've seen. Poor math guys using precious time on making a bad painting.

I think it's cool. If it weren't for the white background, I'd make it my avatar. I'll take that over what's pictured in my avatar.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
SR was necessary, though. The point being that it was fairly useless when discovered, but fantastically useful later on.

My main point was that:

A. SR isn't what one thinks of when Theory of Relativity is mentioned.

B. SR wasn't the core theory for the Manhattan project (nor any other application that I can think of right now).

Jon Miller

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Lul Thyme


So someone pointing out you're incorrect and explaining why is being a total dick in your book?

No. Posting like a dick makes you a dick.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

...is a dick way of "explaining" something. My point is I was waiting to see who would be the first to take a smarter-than-thou tone...

[Kuciwalker]

He is smarter than you.

[DRoseDARs]

And I'm smarter than you, but I'm manage not to be a dick about it.

[Kuciwalker]

There's only one person who can decide that.

[DRoseDARs]

Now that that's settled...

[Kuciwalker]

I wouldn't go so far as to say Kitty is Jesus.

[notyoueither]

nm