temperature and the meta model

Thanks very much Larry. That was a really good explanation. I understand a lot better now. Of course, I'm not sure I know what an "electrical force field" is, but I'm getting closer.

Emanuel

emanuel,

Thanks for the kind words. Force fields are not so easy. We (mankind) have a deep understanding of them on one level (the mathematical what-they-do or how-they-behave level), but a very shallow understanding of them on the other level (the physical why-they-behave-that-way level).

You may have seen me talking about the difference between math and science in other threads, and understanding force fields is an example of that difference. Describing how a natural phenomenon behaves (math) turns out to be easier than understanding why it behaves that way (physics).

In a way this is fortunate because it is easy to argue that the mathematical/how it behaves level of understanding is more important. We can use our ability to describe the phenomenon's behavior with equations to build neat stuff that makes our lives easier and more productive. And we can do these things even if we don't have a clue WHY the phenomenon behaves the way it does.

So - electrical force fields exist (we can detect their effects) and they behave in ways that can be accurately described (and predicted) by specific equations. But we really don't know why they do what they do.

LB

The Description Level (mostly math)

We can detect two kinds of electrical force field, the kind associated with positive charges like protons and the kind associated with negative charges like electrons.

Both kinds of field mix to create a force with a strength that is
a) Proportional to the total amount of charge ( q1 * q2)
b) Inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the centers of the charges (1 / r*2)

This force acts along the line between the centers of the charges. The direction of the force depends on the kind of field.
1) Two fields of the same kind mix to create a repelling force, ( +q1 * +q2 => -f and -q1 * -q2 => -f )
2) Two fields of differing kind mix to create an attracting force. ( +q1 * -q2 => +f and -q1 * +q2 => +f )
k is a constant used to get the units to balance. Its value depends on the system of units you want to use.


Most atoms and molecules contain the same numbers of protons and electrons, and are said to be electricaly neutral. IOW, the electrical force fields cancel each other and the net force is zero. But that is true only from a distance. Up close atoms and molecules have regions of positive field and other regions of negative field. If two atoms get close enough, the positive field region of atom A is attracted to the negative field region atom B, but repelled by the positive field region of atom B.

The strength of both attractive and repulsive forces increase as atom A and atom B get closer. At some distance the forces will become balanced and the two atoms will not get any closer. The two atoms are now a molecule. Many molecules have more than two atoms. A few have only one atom.

In general the forces that hold the atoms of a molecule together are greater than the forces that hold two molecules together. So as heat energy is added to a substance the molecules will begin to separate from each other at lower temperatures than the atoms within each molecule. Melting and boiling (and condensing and freezing) are things that happen between molecules rather than within molecules.

The Explanation Level (mostly physics)

As to what the force fields are physically made of, and therefore <u>why</u> they behave this way ... we have some theories, but no one knows for sure. Dr. Van Flandern's Meta Model proposes one of the best candidates for a physical explanation that I have ever seen. But it is incomplete, a work in progress.

If you want to try to understand it you should read the papers he has published (many available elsewhere on this Website). He is very good at making things clear. Typically he focuses on the physical concepts and uses as little math as is possible.

And read some of the discussions elsewhere in this forum. The search engine is not the best I've seen, but with a little practice it gets the job done.

And, of course, ask questions. Learning these things is not a trivial task. But it is very rewarding. Prepare for a long but enjoyable journey. To me, understanding why is much more interesting than undersanding what. Perhaps it will be the same for you?

Regards,
LB

HINT - in order to understand the (still incomplete) MM theory of electrical force fields you will need to first understand Le Sage's theory of pushing gravity (the physical cause of the gravitational force field) and the MM concept of elysium, the light carrying medium (and a physical manifestation of the gravitational potential field).

Wow. Thanks Larry. Your explanation was great and confirmed my intuition. As for the MM explanation of electrical force fields, I will read Tom's papers. I have read DM as well as Pushing Gravity and am therefore familiar with Le Sage's theory of gravity, and with elysium. Not much time over the next week but I'll start this process soon after that. I may have more questions at that point.

Thanks again. And you too Tom.

Emanuel