RadioBanter - View Single Post - Clarifying Space, "Ether" and Nothingness

Cecil Moore[_2_] · September 20th 08, 04:07 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna

wrote:
Einstein did not prove or disprove or advocate an ether theory.

On the contrary, he said in 1920: "According to the general
theory of relativity, *space without ether is unthinkable*; ..."

From Cecil's earlier reference the following paragraph
(from a speech long after 1905 by A. Einstein) is found:
"More careful reflection teaches us, however, that the special theory
of relativity does not compel us to deny ether."

Could be, but what about the general theory of relativity
which came later? You seem to be missing the fact that Einstein's
statement applies to the *special theory of relativity* which
preceded the *general theory of relativity* about which Einstein
said in 1920:

"Recapitulating, we may say that according to the general
theory of relativity, space is endowed with *physical qualities*;
in this sense, therefore, *there exists an ether*. According to
the general theory of relativity, *space without ether is unthinkable*;
for in such space there not only would be *no propagation of light*,
but also no possibility of existence for standards of space and time
(measuring-rods and clocks), nor therefore any space-time intervals
in the physical sense."

According to Einstein, the ether is a necessary requirement
for the general theory of relativity to be valid. Without ether,
there would obviously be no propagation of RF either. As I said
earlier, EM waves cannot propagate through absolute nothing and
I am just agreeing with Einstein.

Einstein reflected that forces (in this case gravitational)
can be considered to act on space, primarily. The force's effect on
mass would then be a secondary condition that occurs due to the
force's distortion of space.

You have a built-in contradiction there. If gravity can distort
space, then space consists of particles upon which gravity can
act (in accordance with the tenets of quantum physics). They may
be exotic particles but particles nonetheless.

You are calling your ether something that is material, which
Einstein definitely ruled out in the Special Theory in 1905.

But by 1920, Einstein had reintroduced a physical either as
a necessary condition for the general theory of relativity
to be valid.

Quantum Physics tells us that everything that exists exists
as particles. If that is true, then everything that exists
is indeed "material" although ether is most likely an "exotic
material" like (or maybe the same as) dark-matter/dark-energy.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com