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I Pioneered Scientific Magic - Chapter 539
🕑 Added 2024-05-04 04:09:36 +0000 UTCChapter 539: Everything is changing, only the speed of light remains constant!
At noon, the Wizard Council received the report on the "Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser" experiment, and Harof couldn't help frowning, then shook his head with a laugh.
"I think Geoffrey must be joking. They actually said in the experimental report that photons and electrons can predict the future, know in advance whether they will be observed, and choose whether to pass through the slits as particles or probability waves, through a single or multiple slits…"
This was a bit too ridiculous.
It was just as absurd as the constant speed of light hypothesis that Lynn proposed in the theory of relativity.
"I'm afraid he's not joking…" Victorio's expression was very serious as he solemnly explained. "According to the information I've received, fifteen great wizards participated in this experiment, and nine of them went mad on the spot!"
Harof's smile immediately stiffened, and he stared at Victorio for a while to make sure he wasn't being teased.
Even Aurora and Anthony, who were reading about relativity nearby, were shocked. Although it was not uncommon for wizards studying microscopic phenomena to go mad recently, nine at once was too exaggerated.
"Have you replicated their delayed choice experiment? Could it really be as they say, that photons and electrons can foresee whether an observation will occur, even reversing causality?" Harof said in disbelief, finding it incredibly shocking.
"I haven't replicated it, but when I was treating those great wizards, I examined their memories. If these memories haven't been tampered with in advance, then what the report says should indeed be true, that microscopic particles indeed seem to have some ability to foresee the future." Victorio's brow remained furrowed.
From those memories, he saw several improved versions of the double-slit experiment. Geoffrey and others had tried almost every conceivable method to verify this, and the results were surprisingly consistent.
Alade even thought of a very clever method, recording the entire process of the experiment and deciding afterward whether or not to observe. Yet, the test electrons and photons still responded in advance, resulting in probability wave collapse, which could only be described as terrifying.
Victorio shook his head, then reported some good news. "I've already erased those nine people's related memories. They are now receiving mental treatment and should be out of life-threatening danger, though they've lost the ability to use light and thunder magic."
"That's good!" Aurora breathed a sigh of relief. The council now had only a little over a hundred great wizards, and a loss of nine at once was definitely hard to accept.
Harof was still pondering the predictive nature of photons and electrons and was about to continue discussing this topic with Victorio when he received a report from a servant. The great wizards still in the royal capital were all clustered in front of Chairman Lynn's mansion, arguing loudly.
"We better go take a look!" Victorio suggested, as if there might be someone who could answer this question, it was likely only Lynn, who had proposed the theory of relativity.
...
Meanwhile, a large group of wizards were arguing incessantly in front of a luxurious manor about the four formulas and two basic definitions of relativity, as well as doubts about the delayed choice experiment.
"I've already said, according to the experiment, photons and electrons can accurately predict the future, they can sense, I even suspect…" Geoffrey said with a hint of fear and a tremble in his voice. "They can read our thoughts and memories!"
Alade also said with a crazed look, "Indeed, photons and electrons exist everywhere, they must communicate with each other, only then can it explain why they always accurately know our observation plans."
The wizards present all had strange expressions on their faces, how could this get even more preposterous? That's just quantum ghosts, isn't it?
"You're not going to say that there really are such things as quantum ghosts, are you? And are all microscopic elements ghosts?" A great wizard named Gerk scoffed at Geoffrey and others. "I remember Chairman Lynn already explained this, microscopic particles have no consciousness…"
"I'm less willing to believe this is true than anyone, but we've thought of as many as a hundred and thirty methods, all within our capabilities, and tried them one by one, and that's the fact!" Alade yelled furiously. "These elemental ghosts not only can read our memories but can also foresee the future!"
Sanchez also spoke up, detailing every experiment they had conducted and the results.
Initially, the wizards who were just watching the joke and found this conclusion incredibly ridiculous, their expressions gradually changed from mocking to serious and then to contemplative, and many of them began to think about conducting experiments immediately to verify this.
If Sanchez and others were not lying, then it was too astonishing!
"Maybe there really are quantum ghosts. Chairman Lynn, although a star of magic, is not absolutely correct, don't forget, the stellar elemental model he previously proposed was
proven wrong, even though it sounded very reasonable!" Sanchez said with a sigh.
The previously mocking Gerk was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Well said, the development and refinement of magical studies can't be accomplished overnight, and we shouldn't affirm everything just because of the authority of the proposer. Just like the constant speed of light hypothesis mentioned by Chairman Lynn in the theory of relativity, I think it doesn't make sense, I can even think of over a thousand ways to refute it!"
The wizards present nodded, they had gathered here today to inquire about this question from that star of magic.
However, just as Gerk was about to continue, another voice came from inside the manor.
"Oh, really? I wonder what those methods are? I'd like to hear them!"
The previously confident Gerk's expression changed instantly, and he immediately turned his head towards the direction of the manor.
The newcomer was naturally Lynn, followed by a three-meter-tall majestic beast, Muto, who had just stood in front of the gate, blocking everyone outside.
The great wizards present had come to refute the theory of relativity, but upon actually seeing Lynn, some began to second-guess their theories.
Many had previously thought they had found theoretical flaws that could debunk this star of magic and thus make a name for themselves,
After all, everyone knows that Chairman Lynn is utterly unguarded in magical discussions and has even stated on multiple occasions that he welcomes anyone to prove his theories wrong with rigorous theories and sophisticated experimental results!
However, to date, no one has succeeded, and the number of people who have been proven wrong is countless.
Even the only model proven wrong, the stellar elemental orbit model, was Lynn himself who found a more fitting quantum probability cloud theory—in fact, to this day, many wizards still firmly believe the stellar elemental orbit model is the truth because it was so perfect.
Despite having many considerations, since they had come all the way, it wouldn't be good to turn back now, so Gerk bravely spoke up. "Chairman Lynn, about the latest work on the theory of relativity you published today, I have many doubts and questions I'd like to ask you for clarification!"
"Since it's an academic issue, let's come in and talk about it!" Lynn didn't make it difficult for Gerk, knowing this would inevitably cause a stir in the academic community.
After all, the phenomena in the microscopic realm indeed seem somewhat difficult to understand from a macroscopic viewpoint.
Gerk finally breathed a sigh of relief and entered the manor with Geoffrey, Sanchez, and others.
Lynn led everyone to the optical laboratory. Gerk looked around the room, which was filled with many sophisticated magical instruments whose names he couldn't even pronounce.
"Let's discuss your questions here, one by one. Why not start with the principle of relativity!" Lynn said straightforwardly.
The wizards looked at each other, then Gerk was the first to speak. "I see in your paper that all inertial frames of reference are equally valid, no one is more special than the other. So, if I run towards you now, can it also be interpreted as you running towards me?"
The equality of reference frames in the principle of relativity was the first question that puzzled him.
"No, before understanding this concept, I need to explain what an inertial reference frame is!" Lynn shook his head. "It means a state where an object remains relatively stationary or moves at a constant velocity along a specific path. Without external forces changing it, it will continue to move at its current speed."
"For example, all of you standing still here, within this planet, can serve as inertial reference frames." Lynn said, pulling out a silver coin and throwing it swiftly. "If I am the reference frame, then it can be said that this silver coin is moving forward at fifty meters per second!"
"What's the point of that? Whether from the perspective of an inertial reference frame or not, isn't its speed and direction the same?" A great wizard said in surprise.
"No, without this reference frame, we could also say that this silver coin's speed is thirty kilometers per second!" Lynn shrugged and laughed.
Gerk and the others were stunned for a moment, then looked at the silver coin that had been nailed to the wall, frowning in thought.
A great wizard who had studied astronomy quickly realized. "That's the speed of the Eternal Star orbiting the sun!"
Because they were inside the Eternal Star, if the sun were taken as the reference frame, they would be orbiting the sun at a speed of thirty kilometers per second.
"But, that doesn't seem quite right, does it?" Gerk said thoughtfully. "That's the Eternal Star moving, the speed of this silver coin is still fifty meters per second."
Lynn countered. "Suppose you are sitting on a high-speed train, you yourself are not moving, but to people outside the station, you are still moving away from them at high speed
."
Gerk was suddenly speechless, unable to reply for a long time.
Lynn continued to explain. "Without an inertial reference frame, distinguishing up, down, left, right, north, south, east, and west has no meaning. For example, inside the Eternal Star, for people in the northern hemisphere, north is up, while for those in the southern hemisphere, south is up!"
"The reason we can clearly distinguish directions now is because gravity is pulling us down to the ground, with the center of the earth as down, and other directions naturally distinguished!"
In just a few sentences, Lynn clearly explained the necessity of inertial reference frames and why they are equally valid. The great wizards present naturally found it easy to understand.
But this led to the second question.
"Chairman Lynn, I understand your point, but please forgive my directness, your theory of the constant speed of light seems to conflict with the concept of equal reference frames." Gerk spoke again.
"Suppose we release a laser magic inside the Eternal Star, shouldn't the speed of light in the star's view be the orbital speed plus the speed of light?"
Gerk's example and Lynn's thrown silver coin were making the same point, using Lynn's own words as a rebuttal.
Naturally, Lynn would not be stumped by this minor issue and smiled calmly. "How do you see waves propagating? What factors influence its speed?"
Seeing Lynn suddenly shift the topic, Gerk frowned but still responded. "The propagation of waves naturally relies on a medium, and as for its speed of propagation…"
"The speed of mechanical wave propagation depends only on the medium, unaffected by other factors!" Lynn explained. "For example, sound is a type of mechanical wave!"
"Its propagation speed under normal temperature and atmospheric pressure is three hundred forty meters per second, and its speed does not increase just because you run and shout at the same time! An example is when using Thunder Magic, the sound arrives after the lightning because its propagation speed is much slower than that of lightning, and it is not affected by external forces."
"So no matter what state you are in, as long as the medium does not change, any measurement of mechanical waves from any position or angle within an inertial reference frame will inevitably yield a fixed and unchanging value!"
Geoffrey suddenly saw the light, excitedly saying, "Light is also a type of wave, a rather special electromagnetic wave, also possessing certain wave characteristics, so measuring its speed is actually measuring its propagation rate in a certain medium!"
Lynn nodded, understanding this point, half the mystery of the constant speed of light was already clear, although the remaining half was the most difficult to understand!
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