Unanswered Round Earth Questions

SI or system internationalle, i think, are the standard scientific and mathematical units worldwide.

the original definition of a metre was some fraction of the distance between Paris (or some other French city) and the north pole. It has since been redefined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in the period of the reciprical of its velicity of a second, which is 1/3x10'8 of a second.

Units of time were of course originally taken from the amount of light in a day - year lengths were established using the path of the sun, and divided into months and weeks etc. not completely sure about the second but I believe it has something to do with the decay of a cesium atom. Clocks using this technique are known as atomic clocks and are very accurate but because we now base global time off them the actual 'time' of the year, ie the position of the earth in its orbit about the sun is different.

can't help but think I have walked into Tom's trap

LOL.  Like Tom has the intellectual ability to set a trap.

I will attempt to answer your questions to the best of my own knowledge. I will try not to point out simmilar questions I have about FE.

1.) Was it Columbus or Magellan who proved that the earth is round? Who did it?
A: From what I understand, neither of them did. B: I'm no historian but I believe Gallelio did, otherwise, no one PROVED it, or we wouldn't be bickering about it today.
2.) How do planets form?
The laws of physics suggest that once a star forms from the collection of particles floating about, the solids not used by the formed star are ejected and eventually clump together do to gravity to form balls of lava which eventually cool into solid rocky surfaces. The same is suggested for gas giants but using the gases that the star doesn't use.
3.) Why are the magnetic field lines vertical throughout the entire Arctic and Antarctic circles? What causes this?
Because that is what ALL magnetic fields do. Show me a magnetic field that doesn't and I will show you a massive review of the the known universe. I wish I could tell you why but that aside, a picture is worth a thousand words.
4.) How did the man who claimed to make a transcontinental journey across Antarctica over the pole do it if compasses don't work there?
Because he can walk/fly/swim/draw a semi-straight line. Also, see next question for a hint.
5.) If a gyrocompass can detect the rotation of the earth, how does it do it and why does its patent imply that the electronic error correcting device uses a magnetic compass to calibrate itself?
Why does a basket ball spin on the tip of your finger? (assuming you have any athletic talent) Because a gyroscope will drift much sooner that a magnetic field will.
6.) Why does the sun appear much bigger at setting near the horizon than it is overhead at zenith? Why does it still appear large at the horizon in a picture?
It is just the opposite, the sun and moon really appear much SMALLER above the horizon. It is when the sun or moon is high above the horizon, you lose a great deal of reference information that you brain uses to interpret the apparent size of what your seeing. It is also very hard for your brain to estimate a distance/actual size of the sun or moon due to the lack of noticeable parallax. If the photograph includes a horizon line, your brain then has a reference for how large the object is.
7.) Why does the sun lose a large amount of its visible intensity when it is near the horizon?
This is due to atmospheric haze, looking straight up, you are then looking through the least amount of haze as possible from your location. This is why the sky looks much darker than it does nearer to the horizon. Empty space is black.
8.) How does the magnetic North Pole "wander" to and fro over the years without breaking Newtons first law of motion?
By "the years" I assume you mean thousands of years? Newtons first law of motion only applies to objects with mass. A magnetic field has no mass.
9.) How did scientists discover the exact point of magnetic North?
They never discovered the exact point of magnetic north, but they got damn close. Magnetic compasses are innefective very close to the magnetic poles, remember?
10.) In the Analemma of the Sun, how do you explain the retrograde motion of the sun in its Winter annulus and the prograde motion during its Summer annulus?
This is due to the earths tilt along its orbital axis. This is hard to explain, but here is a graphic:
Here is the full article, about the seasons of earth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasons
11.) How did the axis of the earth become tilted in its rotation around the sun? Why doesn't the gravity from the sun tilt it back into place? Clearly there is an imbalance if every ounce of mass in the sun and earth are attracting one another.
Good question, scientists can only guess that it was a product of the formation of our moon. Simply put, a smaller celestial body nicked earth and got trapped, forming the moon* and also put a slight tilt to the earths rotation. I'm not exactly sure the suns gravitational influence would "fix" the earths tilt, since every ounce of mass in the sun and earth are attracting each other equally. If thats not good enough for you, physics suggests that the moon could be gyroscopically stabilizing earths rotation. *This is also used to explain why the moon is so cratered.
12.) Fully explain the property of matter which causes it to bend space-time.
Mass is directly related to gravity, it has been proven that gravity can bend light (known as "gravitational lensing". That is all I know.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lens#Simulation
13.) How did astronomers find the distance of the Astronomical Unit? Did they assume the earth as a globe in their triangulations?
I would assume they used the parallax effect to do the math, I can't give you any details. Of coarse they used the RE model in their triangulations*, it is generally accepted by the scientific community that the earth is a sphere.
*If you will excuse a simple diagram:

14.) What causes the acceleration of the expanding universe?
Something beyond the realm of my understanding.
15.) How does Earth's core work? Can you provide evidence to go along with your assertions?
It is really really hot, and it spins (more like, stirs, from earths rotation). It can create an electromagnetic field, much like an alternator in a car creates electricity to arc across the spark plug. Personally, I have never tried any experiments (aside from using a four stroke gasoline engine), but you can have a look-see at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_field for a more complex explanation.
16.) Where do ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays come from?
Solar flares, bursts of electromagnetic radiation from just below the violent surface of the sun.
17.) What powers quasars?
Thats what I'm trying to know.
18.) Is there a discrete unit of measurement? Is there a discrete unit of time?
hellifiknow
19.) Can we develop a general theory of the dynamics of turbulent flows and the motion of granular materials?
Are you just making these word up?  Ask a physicist.
20.) What causes ice ages?
Most likely, green house gases in the atmosphere, among other things I don't understand. The evidence is in the dirt, valleys and the like. I'm not sure exactly what that has to do with the shape of the earth.
21.) Are there earthquake precursors that can lead to useful predictions?
Have you ever got an early warning of a coming earthquake? You just answered your own question! Once again, unrelated to the shape of the earth a first glance.
22.) What is the origin of homochirality in nature?
What do I look like, a damn chemist?
23.) Is there a simple test for determining whether an elliptic curve in the Newtonian model has an infinite number of rational solutions?
Define simple... I would guess that, No, their is no simple test to determine weather an elliptic cure in the Newtonian model has an infinite number of rational solutions. Keep in mind that I'm no physicist so this is only based on my understanding if the Newtonian model (and the question).
24.) Does the Standard Model of particle physics rest on solid mathematical foundations?
Considering that it is the ONLY model, yes.
25.) What drove cosmic inflation in the early universe? 
Does ANYONE know this?
26.) How do we know what the sun is composed of?
Spectroscopy. All molecules reflect/emit? their own "fingerprint" of the light spectrum.
27.) Does dogma against opposers to "basic fact" exist in scientific circles?
Iforgotwherethespacebaris.

Any questions? Class dismissed.

8.) How does the magnetic North Pole "wander" to and fro over the years without breaking Newtons first law of motion?

The earth's outter core is molten iron. This molten iron's polarity moves as IT does.

1.) Was it Columbus or Magellan who proved that the earth is round? Who did it?
 

Magellan was the first person who circumnavigated the Earth. At that time, it was considered a great demonstration of the Earth’s roundness.

2.) How do planets form?
 

By coagulation of matter from the nebula due to gravitational attraction from which the whole Solar System forms. The magnetic field plays a key role.

3.) Why are the magnetic field lines vertical throughout the entire Arctic and Antarctic circles? What causes this?
 

The magnetic Poles are not on the surface of the Earth but inside the Earth. So, the magnetic field lines cross the surface of the Earth approximately vertically.

4.) How did the man who claimed to make a transcontinental journey across Antarctica over the pole do it if compasses don't work there?
 

Compasses, especially gyrocompasses work in the polar regions. Also, there is navigation by stars.

5.) If a gyrocompass can detect the rotation of the earth, how does it do it and why does its patent imply that the electronic error correcting device uses a magnetic compass to calibrate itself?
 

If it is not aligned to true North-South, it precesses. I don't know what patent you are referring to.

6.) Why does the sun appear much bigger at setting near the horizon than it is overhead at zenith? Why does it still appear large at the horizon in a picture?
 

It's due to atmospheric refraction which has a lensing effect.

7.) Why does the sun lose a large amount of its visible intensity when it is near the horizon?
 

Because the incident rays build a greater angle with the normal to the surface.

8.) How does the magnetic North Pole "wander" to and fro over the years without breaking Newtons first law of motion?

The magnetic poles are not particles and Newton's laws of motion are given for particle motion. The Earth’s core moves differently than the solid part of the crust, so there is a relative motion between these parts.

9.) How did scientists discover the exact point of magnetic North?

By ploting where the magnetic meridians intersected the Earth’s surface.

10.) In the Analemma of the Sun, how do you explain the retrograde motion of the sun in its Winter annulus and the prograde motion during its Summer annulus?

There are three parameters that affect the size and shape of the analemma: obliquity, eccentricity, and the angle between the apse line and the line of solstices. For an object with a perfectly circular orbit and no axial tilt, the Sun would always appear at the same point in the sky at the same time of day throughout the year and the analemma would be a dot. For an object with a circular orbit but axial tilt similar to Earth's, the analemma would be a figure of eight with northern and southern lobes equal in size. For an object with eccentricity similar to Earth's, but no axial tilt, the analemma would be a straight east-west line along the equator.

11.) How did the axis of the earth become tilted in its rotation around the sun? Why doesn't the gravity from the sun tilt it back into place? Clearly there is an imbalance if every ounce of mass in the sun and earth are attracting one another.

The Gravitational force from the Sun alone cannot cause a torque and that is what is needed to tilt the axis of rotation. No, there isn't any imbalance. The forces have equal magnitudes, but, since the Sun is more massive, it has a smaller centripetal acceleration.

12.) Fully explain the property of matter which causes it to bend space-time.

Matter and energy have the fundamental property to bend space-time according to the General Theory of Relativity. It is like the property called electric charge, which makes the charged particles to create and be affected by electromagnetic fields.

13.) How did astronomers find the distance of the Astronomical Unit? Did they assume the earth as a globe in their triangulations?

No, they assumed it to be a point, since the distances between the planets are much greater then their linear dimensions.

14.) What causes the acceleration of the expanding universe?

Nothing. It was expanding since the Big Bang and there is not enough matter - energy to stop it.

15.) How does Earth's core work? Can you provide evidence to go along with your assertions?

What do you mean by ‘work’?

16.) Where do ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays come from?

From outer space. Centers of galaxies and supernovae and other exotic astronomical objects are sources of high-energy particles.

17.) What powers quasars?

See this explaination: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar. BTW, how is this related to the RE model?

18.) Is there a discrete unit of measurement? Is there a discrete unit of time?

It is believed to be the Planck Time. One can construct a physical quantity with the dimension of time from the three fundamental constants:

Speed of light in vacuum – c
Planck constant – ħ
Universal gravitational constant – G

T_p = (G ħ/c⁵)^1/2 ~ 10^-44 s
BTW, how is this related to the RE model?

19.) Can we develop a general theory of the dynamics of turbulent flows and the motion of granular materials?

Yes, we will probably do it in near future.

20.) What causes ice ages?

The precession of the Earth’s axis, variable distance from the Sun and the greenhouse effect. Milutin Milankovic developed the astronomical theory of climate at the beginning of the XX century.

21.) Are there earthquake precursors that can lead to useful predictions?

Not that I know of. Some say piezoelectric effects in the moving rock.

22.) What is the origin of homochirality in nature?

Living organisms accept only one of the chiral forms of the organic molecules. BTW, how is this related to the RE model?

23.) Is there a simple test for determining whether an elliptic curve in the Newtonian model has an infinite number of rational solutions?

Rephrase your question so that it would make sense.

24.) Does the Standard Model of particle physics rest on solid mathematical foundations?

Yes, group theory is particularly important. BTW, how is this related to the RE model?

25.) What drove cosmic inflation in the early universe? 

We don’t know. BTW, how is this related to the RE model?

26.) How do we know what the sun is composed of?

Spectroscopy. Also, we know the mass and the volume, so we can determine the average density.

27.) Does dogma against opposers to "basic fact" exist in scientific circles?

Yes, particularly against pseudo scientists, theologians and racists.

Why did yall bump this?  This is so old.

Blame Tom.  He forgot that all his unanswered questions were answered and he used this thread in a different thread.   

also not : Tom did not provide any answers for the questions given to him. seems to be a pattern..

Tom did not provide any answers for the questions given to him. seems to be a pattern..

Ah the innocence of youth.

Quote from: Tom Bishop on April 22, 2007, 05:41:00 PM

14.) What causes the acceleration of the expanding universe?

Nothing. It was expanding since the Big Bang and there is not enough matter - energy to stop it.

It is indeed accelerating in its expansion.

I finished my answers:

I demand justice for this thread of Tom's ultimate stupidity.

Quote from: Bushido on June 16, 2007, 06:00:49 AM

Quote from: Tom Bishop on April 22, 2007, 05:41:00 PM

14.) What causes the acceleration of the expanding universe?

Nothing. It was expanding since the Big Bang and there is not enough matter - energy to stop it.

It is indeed accelerating in its expansion.

  WOW! Take it easy with your single objection. I don't want my damage to get brained!

Come on people, this thread shows exactly how stupid Tom is...

lol i was quite aware of the extent of Tom's stupidity even before reading this thread

Yeah, but...

Please note that this is not from Tom Bishop, just from a troll that signs in as a guest and re-posts old babble from Tom to get all of us into the same argument over and over again. This kind of posts should be reported to moderators and closed.

1.) Was it Columbus or Magellan who proved that the earth is round? Who did it?

2.) How do planets form?

3.) Why are the magnetic field lines vertical throughout the entire Arctic and Antarctic circles? What causes this?

4.) How did the man who claimed to make a transcontinental journey across Antarctica over the pole do it if compasses don't work there?

5.) If a gyrocompass can detect the rotation of the earth, how does it do it and why does its patent imply that the electronic error correcting device uses a magnetic compass to calibrate itself?

6.) Why does the sun appear much bigger at setting near the horizon than it is overhead at zenith? Why does it still appear large at the horizon in a picture?

7.) Why does the sun lose a large amount of its visible intensity when it is near the horizon?

8.) How does the magnetic North Pole "wander" to and fro over the years without breaking Newtons first law of motion?

9.) How did scientists discover the exact point of magnetic North?

10.) In the Analemma of the Sun, how do you explain the retrograde motion of the sun in its Winter annulus and the prograde motion during its Summer annulus?

11.) How did the axis of the earth become tilted in its rotation around the sun? Why doesn't the gravity from the sun tilt it back into place? Clearly there is an imbalance if every ounce of mass in the sun and earth are attracting one another.

12.) Fully explain the property of matter which causes it to bend space-time.

13.) How did astronomers find the distance of the Astronomical Unit? Did they assume the earth as a globe in their triangulations?

14.) What causes the acceleration of the expanding universe?

15.) How does Earth's core work? Can you provide evidence to go along with your assertions?

16.) Where do ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays come from?

17.) What powers quasars?

18.) Is there a discrete unit of measurement? Is there a discrete unit of time?

19.) Can we develop a general theory of the dynamics of turbulent flows and the motion of granular materials?

20.) What causes ice ages?

21.) Are there earthquake precursors that can lead to useful predictions?

22.) What is the origin of homochirality in nature?

23.) Is there a simple test for determining whether an elliptic curve in the Newtonian model has an infinite number of rational solutions?

24.) Does the Standard Model of particle physics rest on solid mathematical foundations?

25.) What drove cosmic inflation in the early universe? 

26.) How do we know what the sun is composed of?

27.) Does dogma against opposers to "basic fact" exist in scientific circles?

  Nope, it's the genuine article.

Lol, is Tom creating a guest account of himself? That's lame. But most of these questions are either irrelevant or answered, or both. And since when is he in position to ask us anything.

The original post is from late April.  At that time Tom was a mod, he wasn't supposed to be, and his account was deleted.  His posts remained under this guest status.  And he was able to resign up, thus creating the Tom Bishop account you all know and love today.

I have the answer to four.

He went forwards. he didn't look at his compass and say "this doesn't seem to be working. I should quit."