Are the laws of physics uniform throughout the universe?
- Philosophy Explorer
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Are the laws of physics uniform throughout the universe?
How do we know?
PhilX
- A_Seagull
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Re: Are the laws of physics uniform throughout the universe?
Philosophy Explorer wrote:Or is this just a convenient assumption? For example how do we know the speed of light is a constant all throughout the universe. And the same may be asked of the universal law of gravitation or any other law. We've never been out to the edge of the universe to verify these assumptions.
How do we know?
PhilX
Well of course we don't know. But the indications are that they are uniform.
From spectra of distant galaxies and quasars one can identify lines relating to specific elements and electron transitions. While these lines have been red-shifted the ratio of their wavelengths is the same as in laboratory experiments which suggest that the fundamental constants of physics remain the same. If the physics in those distant objects were different one would expect to see a difference in the ratios of the lines in their spectra.
- Atreyu
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Re: Are the laws of physics uniform throughout the universe?
An excellent point. Indeed we do not know and indeed it is a convenient assumption.Philosophy Explorer wrote:Or is this just a convenient assumption? For example how do we know the speed of light is a constant all throughout the universe. And the same may be asked of the universal law of gravitation or any other law. We've never been out to the edge of the universe to verify these assumptions.
How do we know?
PhilX
I wouldn't put too much weight in that. The laws of physics are a lot more broad than merely the properties of light. However, I think the key point is scale rather than place. I would expect the same laws to apply on other planets, for example. But what about the Universe as a whole at the macro level? What about subatomic particles? I don't think that laws change as one moves about from place to place in the Universe. But they certainly do as we move from one scale to another, as is evidenced by the fact that we need one law, gravity, to explain things on a more macro level, while we need other laws, like strong and weak nuclear force, to explain things on a more micro level.A_Seagull wrote:Well of course we don't know. But the indications are that they are uniform.
From spectra of distant galaxies and quasars one can identify lines relating to specific elements and electron transitions. While these lines have been red-shifted the ratio of their wavelengths is the same as in laboratory experiments which suggest that the fundamental constants of physics remain the same. If the physics in those distant objects were different one would expect to see a difference in the ratios of the lines in their spectra.
So it all depends on how we interpret the OP's term 'all throughout the Universe'. Do we view it in terms of distance or in terms of scale?
- A_Seagull
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Re: Are the laws of physics uniform throughout the universe?
Atreyu wrote:[I wouldn't put too much weight in that. The laws of physics are a lot more broad than merely the properties of light. However, I think the key point is scale rather than place. I would expect the same laws to apply on other planets, for example. But what about the Universe as a whole at the macro level? What about subatomic particles? I don't think that laws change as one moves about from place to place in the Universe. But they certainly do as we move from one scale to another, as is evidenced by the fact that we need one law, gravity, to explain things on a more macro level, while we need other laws, like strong and weak nuclear force, to explain things on a more micro level.A_Seagull wrote:Well of course we don't know. But the indications are that they are uniform.
From spectra of distant galaxies and quasars one can identify lines relating to specific elements and electron transitions. While these lines have been red-shifted the ratio of their wavelengths is the same as in laboratory experiments which suggest that the fundamental constants of physics remain the same. If the physics in those distant objects were different one would expect to see a difference in the ratios of the lines in their spectra.
So it all depends on how we interpret the OP's term 'all throughout the Universe'. Do we view it in terms of distance or in terms of scale?
I think you are missing the point about spectra. They are much more than properties of light. The wavelengths of spectra are determined by the masses, configurations, and forces of an atom (or ion).
The question of scale rather than distance is a quite separate question. Physical laws only purport to cover a particular domain or range. They are not purported to be accurate over all scales and domains.
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