On 15 Oct 2011 at 10:31, Brandon, Paul K wrote: > I was more concerned about the size of the effect -- if the velocity > of the neutrino had been twice, or ten times that of C I would be more > likely to view it as 'new physics', rather than something that may or > may not be within the margin or error of the measurement, which is > what the current controversy is about.
The problem is that an unimaginably small difference can make a big difference (to us) in the world of the unimaginably large, our universe. A serious objection to the claim of excessively speedy neutrinos is the case of supernova 1987a. If neutrinos exceeded the speed of light by the tiny, tiny amount claimed for it, how much sooner would we detect the arrrival of neutrinos of supernova 1987a before astronomers peering through their telescopes saw the light from the explosion? The answer: about 4 years. In fact, the measured advantage of neutrinos over light racing to us through the vastness of space was only 3 hours. Some physicists have a whole lot of 'splainin' to do over that result to maintain the faster-than-light claim. See http://tinyurl.com/3h757z2 Stephen -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca --------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=13448 or send a blank email to leave-13448-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
