The cavendish experiment is known to have several flaws. It doesn't do what it intends to do - measure the density of the earth. It is very difficult to even do this measuring in the first place using this experiment. Its extremely sensitive to outside forces. The effect of temperature can alter the results. The effect of air density can affect it. The effect of the imperfection of the lead spheres. Assuming the earth is round, the effect of the rotation is also not accounted for.
Its a horrible experiment.
See, THIS is what I want. You gave actual reasons, and pointed out genuine issues with such a theoretically precise and delicate experiment. The problem is that Scepti doesn't do this. He just said:
Here's a succinct guide from Harvard: https://sciencedemonstrations.fas.harvard.edu/presentations/cavendish-experiment
The reason this works as proof of gravity is because there are no forces acting on the rod, yet it still spins toward the large masses. The only explanation for this happening no matter where you set it up is that there is a force attracting the masses to each other. That force is what we call gravity.
I call it atmospheric compressive movement.
This isn't a reply. This isn't an argument. Scepti just said "No, it's this" without explaining what "atmospheric compressive movement" is, or debunking the claims in the original post. Doing a site search, this is the first time they've EVER used that term. Experiments aside, it's literally impossible to argue with this kind of thing.
Here's some more from that post:
I've done my job; you do yours. What experiment can I run to prove denpressure is real?
You've done nothing of the sort.
You offered something and said its gravity and if you're absolutely honest with yourself you will accept you're offering nothing of the sort in terms of you actually know yourself.
You are simply reliant on the story.
I've given you my story and I don't expect you to accept it but that's my story.
Okay, admittedly cocky phrasing of my post aside, this isn't a response. I explained why the experiment proves gravity, namely the lack of other forces. Now, you can dispute the experiment and it's flaws, but I didn't say "Cavendish experiment means gravity because science man said so!" And as for the last bit, that's not true. We haven't seen Scepti's story, because Scepti refuses to elaborate beyond saying they use words to mean different things in denpressure for some reason.
Oh, and one more for the road:
I can't provide any experiment to prove anything against something other people believe in.
You believe in a spinning globe and gravity and light-year stars and black holes and ...well...you get my gist. So I'm under no illusions about offering you anything that will pacify you.
I have no issue with that by the way, I'm simply just saying.
It has to be down to the individual as to whether they want to sit back and ponder anything from all avenues.
If you want a simple reactionary argument. I offer you the Cavendish experiment as another denpressure evidence.
Now I gave you my reasoning with atmospheric displacement by any dense mass.
You have offered nothing to back up gravity except to say "See, it's gravity."
How about you explain what gravity is as a force?
You can provide an experiment. Please do. If you don't think it's convincing, rework it to be more convincing, to be more rigorous. to be a stronger proof. That's science. The first thing I did in that thread was bring up Newton's laws of motion, which Scepti promptly refuted by... not understanding how the human body works.
https://www.theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=91652.msg2400703#msg2400703 After a back and forth with Stash, Scepti provided the idea that dropping an apple higher up means it will drop faster. They then go on to claim that this difference is marginal to the point of being null, which literally means non-existing.
https://www.theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=91652.msg2400956#msg2400956Then, I ask for an experiment, and Scepti asks for one back, giving me that hypocritical quote from earlier. Here, I'll do it properly this time.
You seem to be fixated with wanting numbers and calculations.
Let me just pacify you. You're getting no calculations so don't waste your time.
Alright, how about an experiment? Is there anything we can test and observe that proves denpressure is real? Forget numbers, something we can do that would make sense in denpressure, but not gravity. And no, it can't just be "gravity is obviously fake." Assume both are valid theories, and then make an experiment that would disprove gravity. Seems fair.
Now, I would make this experiment myself (other way round, given I'm on the other side), but it's hard to nail down exactly what denpressure is. I get you don't want to give out numbers, but a clear definition of the terms and systems you use would be helpful. Hell, it might even convince other people it's how the world works, because they'll be able to figure out what it actually is. Win-win for both sides.
First of all you need to do an experiment to show what gravity is and know it to be real before you can even bother to argue against denpressure.
I can put many things out that many of us already know to have a lot to do with atmospheric pressure being displaced by any dense mass but in that argument, someone will say "Oh yes but it can't happen without gravity."
So explain gravity in a way that actually makes sense.
I relented on the subject of any formulas and numbers, at which point everyone else threw in the towel. I asked only for an experiment. Then Scepti tells me, in nicer words, you first.
https://www.theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=91652.msg2401192#msg2401192And I provide the post from earlier about the Cavendish experiment. We've come full circle, and I've yet to see Scepti give a straight answer to any question except Newton, in which I had to search the site for the post they said "debunked Newton's laws of motion" (it didn't, see the post to do with human anatomy) because they, as is seemingly a pattern, refused to elaborate.
Is the Cavendish experiment flawed? Yes. It absolutely could be improved. But at least gravity tried, unlike denpressure. Also, it measures gravity, not Earth's density. That's just something you can do once you know what gravity is.
Is this AR material? Yeah, probably. But is Scepti engaging in debate? Is dodging around questions like "May I have any form of proof" debate? No. No it aint. You're the mod, you make the decisions, but I'm fascinated to see where you get your definition of debate, and what it is, if this counts. (That sounds sarcastic, it isn't. I'm actually interested in hearing all sides.)