Just been marking some Physics 1A coursework. In one question about frames of reference, the expected answer to “what is the key assumption necessary for this to be valid” is apparently “time is simple”. In this case this means relative motion is slow, so no nasty relativistic effects; an identical time co-ordinate can be used in both frames. But “time is simple” made me giggle.
(a) I have just listened to several deadlines whooshing by, when only a moment ago they were nowhere near. It seems obvious that space-time is non-linear. Not just curved but crinkled. We need some kind of adaptive optics equivalent for straightening out the space-time curvature. We must get Doc Brown working on it.
(b) I have been noting further signs of entropy in the old bod. Most distressing. How did this happen? I am still eighteen, obviously. As the Thin White Duke used to sing, Time may change me, but I can’t trace Time. Or maybe Sandy Denny had it down – Who knows where the time goes? Perhaps as her chum RT used to sing, we’ll all meet on the ledge. (Stop now, getting depressing – Ed.)
(c) Meanwhile the Government makes it worse with all this clock changing tomfoolery. My apprentice Jack tells there is an old Navaho saying – only the government can believe that cutting a foot off the bottom of the blanket and sewing it onto the top of the blanket, you get a longer blanket. Whats more, technology has made it more confusing.
Saturday night I wanted to set an alarm, as I had to get up reasonably early to go do something. I stared at several different digital devices and I really didn’t know whether they would automatically adjust themselves in the middle of the night or not. What should I set the alarm for? When I woke up, how would I know if the change had been made or not? I could easily blow it by an hour in either direction. So I put three different devices on the bedside table and crossed my fingers. Luckily, in the morning, two had changed and one had not, so the conclusion was clear. But Jeez, how nervewracking. Why haven’t I got a CLOCK???
Now you can guess. Device A = radio alarm. Device B= ancient Palm LifeDrive. Device C = mobile phone. Which one was thankfully the dumbest?
