Cecily Zamora
The laws of physics are not set in stone; they are not like legal laws. Instead, they are descriptions of how the universe behaves. If a law of physics is broken, it means that the law in question was not a good description of how the universe works.
The laws of physics are also not ultimate laws but rather consistent mathematical theories that seem to match some parts of nature. For example, Newton's laws of motion, Einstein's theories of relativity, Schrödinger's and Dirac's equations in quantum physics, and string theory are all precise and consistent ways of describing the reality we see.
The laws of physics are always evolving as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves. For instance, Newton's law of gravity is relatively straightforward and powerful, but it is incomplete and cannot completely describe the orbit of Mercury. Einstein's theory of general relativity provides a more universal and complicated description of gravity, which is needed for more intense scenarios, like around a black hole or when more precision is needed, like when calculating GPS coordinates.
The law of conservation of energy, which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, is one of the most cherished laws of physics. However, this law does not apply to the universe as a whole. As light travels from distant galaxies through our ever-expanding universe, it gets redshifted, and its electromagnetic waves get stretched, causing a loss of energy.
The laws of physics are always open to being proven wrong, and when the evidence changes, we update our knowledge of physics, tearing down laws if we have to and moving on.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of "laws of physics" | "Laws of physics" is a loose term, even among physicists. Sometimes it applies to properties of the natural world that we have consistently observed to be true for a very long time. Sometimes it is attached to fundamental ideas that form the bedrock of large, sprawling, complex theories of the cosmos. And sometimes it is a throwback term that doesn't even apply anymore. |
| Nature of "laws of physics" | Laws of physics are not like legal laws. They are descriptions of how the universe behaves. They are not static; they evolve as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves. |
| Possibility of breaking "laws of physics" | If a law of physics is broken, it means that the law in question was not actually a good description of how the universe works. |
| Implications of breaking "laws of physics" | If a law of physics is broken, we need to rewrite the law because it means something we thought was a law actually wasn't one. We get to learn something new and progress in our knowledge and become ever more sophisticated in our understanding of nature. |
| Examples of broken "laws of physics" | Bode's law, proposed in 1715, states that each planet should be roughly twice as far away from the Sun as the next planet inwards. The law failed after the discovery of Neptune. Newton's law of universal gravitation is incomplete and cannot completely describe the orbit of Mercury. |
What You'll Learn
The laws of physics are not set in stone
The "laws" of physics are not set in stone. They are not like legal laws but are descriptions of how the universe behaves. They are models that scientists use to predict the future behaviour of the universe and to describe its past behaviour. These models are imperfect and provisional, based on the available evidence. If the evidence changes, then our knowledge of physics is updated, and we move on.
Theoretical physicist Sankar Das Sarma, for instance, agrees with string theorist Robbert Dijkgraaf's argument that there are no laws of physics. In an essay for New Scientist magazine's Lost in Space-Time newsletter, Das Sarma writes:
> What we often call laws of physics are really just consistent mathematical theories that seem to match some parts of nature. This is as true for Newton's laws of motion as it is for Einstein's theories of relativity, Schrödinger's and Dirac's equations in quantum physics or even string theory. So these aren't really laws as such, but instead precise and consistent ways of describing the reality we see. This should be obvious from the fact that these laws are not static; they evolve as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves.
Despite the loose definition of the word "law" in physics, there are some laws that are so central and deeply studied that it would take a lot of work to overturn them. For example, the laws of the conservation of momentum are found in almost every single corner of physics. They form the foundation for basic mechanics, gravitation, the theories of relativity, fluid mechanics, electromagnetism, and more.
However, it is important to note that even these fundamental laws are not set in stone. For example, modern physics has shown that when exploring the extremes of time and space, many of our basic assumptions, such as the conservation of energy, start to crumble.
In conclusion, while the laws of physics provide a solid framework for understanding the universe, they are not immutable truths. They are constantly evolving as our knowledge and understanding of the universe expand.
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Laws of physics are just consistent mathematical theories
The laws of physics are often just consistent mathematical theories that seem to match some parts of nature. This is true for Newton's laws of motion, Einstein's theories of relativity, Schrödinger's and Dirac's equations in quantum physics, and even string theory.
These laws are not static; they evolve as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves. For example, Newtonian laws are relevant only within a certain scope. They work well for describing the motion of an apple falling from a tree or the moon moving around the Earth, but they break down at the sub-atomic scale.
Theoretical physicist Sankar Das Sarma argues that "ultimate physical laws probably don't exist and physics is all the better for it." Instead of viewing the laws of physics as fixed and fundamental, we should see them as human inventions and models that help us make sense of and describe how the universe works.
The universe exhibits patterns and consistencies that allow organisms to adapt and develop strategies that depend on these regularities. Humans have gone beyond this by creating descriptions and mathematical models of these patterns, which we call "laws." However, it is hard to explain the most fundamental nature of the universe, and we may never discover ultimate laws.
The laws of physics are, therefore, consistent mathematical theories that describe our current understanding of the universe. They are not set in stone but are subject to change as our knowledge evolves.
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Laws of physics are not static
The laws of physics are not static; they are dynamic and ever-evolving as our knowledge of the universe improves. What we often refer to as the "laws of physics" are actually just consistent mathematical theories that seem to match some parts of nature.
For example, Euclidean geometry was once considered a universal natural law, intrinsic to 3D space itself. However, it is now known that 3D geometry is governed by General Relativity and is not absolute but affected by the disposition of matter.
Another example is the fine-structure constant, which appears to be constant over a long period. However, there is tentative evidence that it may have changed over the history of our region of the universe.
The Standard Model of particle physics, which includes special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, and more, is also subject to change as new discoveries are made. While the fundamental principles and concepts are expected to remain the same, the laws may be refined and updated.
In the field of quantum physics, it has been found that there can be multiple descriptions of the same physical system. This has led to a shift in perspective, where physicists now embrace the vast space of possibilities and try to understand its overarching logic and interconnectedness.
Therefore, it is important to recognize that the laws of physics are not static but are constantly being refined and updated as we deepen our understanding of the universe.
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Laws of physics are not like legal laws
The laws of physics are not set in stone but are constantly evolving as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves. They are mathematical models that approximate and describe reality, rather than absolute truths. These models are always limited and are never complete. They are useful tools for predicting and understanding the world around us, but they should not be confused with the underlying reality itself.
The laws of physics are not unique or arbitrary but are interconnected and consistent. They are based on a handful of fundamental principles and equations, such as Newton's laws, Einstein's theories of relativity, and the Standard Model of particle physics. These laws and models have been incredibly successful in explaining a wide range of phenomena, from the motion of planets to the behaviour of subatomic particles.
However, there are limitations and gaps in our understanding. For example, the laws of quantum mechanics and general relativity are not currently reconciled, and there are phenomena such as dark matter and energy that cannot be fully explained by our current laws. This has led some physicists to propose more radical theories, such as string theory, which suggests that there may be many possible worlds with different laws of nature.
In conclusion, the laws of physics are not like legal laws in the sense that they are descriptive, evolving, and based on the symmetries of nature. They are powerful tools for understanding the universe, but they are not absolute truths and should not be confused with the underlying reality they seek to describe.
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Laws of physics are descriptions of how the universe behaves
The laws of physics are descriptions of how the universe behaves. They are not prescriptive but descriptive, and they are not set in stone. Physics is about understanding the universe, and the laws of physics are the answers science has given us.
The laws of physics are a description of reality, and they work for the parts of reality that we understand well. They are based on consistent mathematical theories that seem to match some parts of nature. These laws are not static; they evolve as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves.
The laws of physics are not like legal laws. They are not rules that the universe must follow. Instead, they are descriptions and models of how the universe works based on our observations. These laws enable us to exploit and manipulate nature to our benefit. For example, electromagnetic waves have always existed in our universe, but it was only a century ago that we were able to manipulate them to transfer information over long distances.
The laws of physics are universal and available for everyone and everything to exploit. They are not limited by time or space. However, it is important to note that the laws of physics are not perfect and may change over time as we make new discoveries and improve our understanding of the universe.
The laws of physics are a human construct, and they are not infallible. They are subject to change as we continue to explore and learn more about the universe.
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Frequently asked questions
The laws of physics are consistent mathematical theories that seem to match some parts of nature.
The laws of physics cannot be broken. Laws of physics are descriptions of how the universe behaves. If a law of physics is broken, it means that the law in question was not a good description of how the universe works.
Yes, the laws of physics can change. They are not static and evolve as our empirical knowledge of the universe improves.
The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Instead, it can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another.
The law of conservation of energy is significant because it implies that a perpetual motion machine cannot exist. It also forms the foundation for basic mechanics, gravitation, the theories of relativity, fluid mechanics, electromagnetism, and more.
