Are measurements relative? For example, if we take a ruler and draw a line an inch long will that inch be an "inch" in the eyes of say, a giant? Or will inch for a giant be longer than ours and our inch will be shorter than a giants inch? On a related note: If your eyes are bigger does it make objects appear smaller? And vice versa: if your eyes were smaller would that make objects appear bigger? What do you guys think?
an inch is an inch to any human. a mile is a mile. same concept as a dollar is a dollar to any human really. I always used to think how far an ants mile is compared to a human mile haha
This reminds me of that subway commercial with that annoying ass "5$ foot long" jingle, with the giant robot holding its hands out the same width as if it were proportionately the same size as a human being. My 8 year old cousin pointed out that the robot wants a sub made for it thats like 3 car lengths long and would in no way cost only 5$ lol
An inch is an inch, yes. Within the realm of normal physics. A 'relative' measurement makes no sense. Within the realm of normal physics. However, in the realm of quantum mechanics, we deal with something called the uncertainty principle. Considering the question you asked, I take myself the liberty of presumption and assume that you're not schooled in physics. What goes on in the realm of quantum mechanics (quantum means really tiny) - no one really knows. What we do know is that the normal rules of physics - the ones we use at our 'giant' level - don't apply. At the quantum level, particles can 'blink' in and out of existance, and they have multiple states of existance at once. Check it out and educate yourself! Quantum mechanics are fascinating. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc]Dr Quantum - Double Slit Experiment - YouTube[/ame]
[quote name='"VikingToker"'] An inch is an inch, yes. Within the realm of normal physics. A 'relative' measurement makes no sense. Within the realm of normal physics. However, in the realm of quantum mechanics, we deal with something called the uncertainty principle. Considering the question you asked, I take myself the liberty of presumption and assume that you're not schooled in physics. What goes on in the realm of quantum mechanics (quantum means really tiny) - no one really knows. What we do know is that the normal rules of physics - the ones we use at our 'giant' level - don't apply. At the quantum level, particles can 'blink' in and out of existance, and they have multiple states of existance at once. Check it out and educate yourself! Quantum mechanics are fascinating. Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc[/quote] If we shrunk a human to the size of an ant would that human see a pebble the same size we see a the pebble?
Well, no, to us it would appear larger, as we would be smaller. That's basic relativism. But that doesn't change the size of the pebble. The pebble is still the same. How we see it makes no difference.
[quote name='"VikingToker"'] Well, no, to us it would appear larger, as we would be smaller. That's basic relativism. But that doesn't change the size of the pebble. The pebble is still the same. How we see it makes no difference.[/quote] So then if the human pulled out a ruler that shrunk with him, wouldnt that inch still be measuring an inch? In his perception, no? Edit. Can you please stop being so condescending.
incase you didnt know giants dont exist so the first 3 paragraphs may as well be ignored. the last paragraph is ridiculous no sorry the whole things just ridiculous
[quote name='"stonerchick1990"'] Wah wah wah beer wah wha smoke wahawah weed wah[/quote] There... Maybe now you will leave
Incase you didn't know...this thread is clearly hypothetical. It doesn't matter if giants exist or not...that's SOO far from the point.
did that make sense in that little head of yours? because if it did it didnt translate so well in type
It was never my intention to be condescending, so put that out of your head. I have a background in physics, so I'm not used to questions like this. If you find me insulting, I sincerily apologize. I am not calling you stupid, merely uneducated in physics, and that's no insult. I am only happy that you're curious about this stuff, and want to discuss it! To answer your question, no, the inch would not be measuring an inch once you shrunk down the ruler. Imagine yourself holding a ruler, both of you shrunk to one tenth of your size. You would now be one tenth of your normal, full-size self, and 1 inch on the small ruler would be one tenth of an inch. Your perception of it is irrelevant. But, to talk about perceptions, you're not entirely in the wrong. In fact, you could even be right. Hawking uses goldfish as an example. You know when you look through a glass of water, it sorta stretches and bends everything around you? Well, that's what a goldfish in a bowl sees all it's life, and to the goldfish, that's reality. We could be doing the same thing - how do we know what we see is reality, and not just our perception? (We only 'see' the world for what it really is with mathematics - and even that is questionable) Here's the quote: I sincerily recommend you pick up (or download the audiobook, w/e) Stephen Hawking's the Great Design. It's full of this kind of stuff.