Of the two forces of the Universe, only pull may result in something being close to straight in the physical world. Compare, for example, pulling as opposed to pushing the ends of a rubber band. The stronger we pull, the straighter the rubber band seems to get. If we push, we guarantee that it sags. There is no object in nature that is perfectly straight, but if we are to imagine ideal structural straightness, it is difficult to believe that we can do without the force of pull. So I ask: Why does light travel rectilinearly as soon as it leaves the atom or the flashlight? Is it because it is being pulled? A good analogy is the old Indian Rope Trick. The turbaned fellow toots his flute and the rope grows straight out of the basket (Fig. 1). Why doesn’t the photon curve sharply or zig-zag like a drunken driver upon leaving the atom, more so if the atom is in motion? In a related matter, how can you induce transverse undulations on a string unless the string is already tied to the wall?
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 12:39:05 +0000
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