Science is the pursuit of what is true in nature. Theoretical physics is the greatest expression of science’s pursuit, as well as the most fundamental of its foundations. This means that theoretical physics identifies those explanations that are consistent with reality (that is, consistent with what is observed and never inconsistent with it), and distinguishes these explanations, those wholly consistent with observation, from any others that are not. Distinguishing these wholly consistent explanations from any and all others that are not – like those that our minds might imagine, for example, in the absence of scientific understanding, and that do not demonstrate themselves in nature in any kind of precise and predictably observable way – has led to our understanding of why what is true must be true, and why what is not true, can never be. More basically, it has led to explaining why everything is the way it is by uncovering the explanation of what life itself is and ultimately, explaining why life ‘is’ and must ‘be’, in order for there to be reality.
Most amazingly, the pursuit of truth in nature, again, science, has led to explaining why it is life – and nothing else – that is the fundamental nexus of physical existence. Again, to be perfectly clear, in discovering this, life’s role to physical existence, science has revealed irrefutably that life must ‘be’ for there to be any kind of reality at all, instead of there simply having never been anything existent anywhere, which would flatly be the case, in the absence of life. Moreover, science, specifically theoretical physics, can demonstrate this truth, experimentally (e.g. the two-slot experiment of quantum mechanics, see companion volume), wholly independent of any testimonial “proof,” which is something that simply no other body of ideas can do.
That is precisely what science does. By pursuing truth in nature, science identifies what is true in it, what is not, and most significantly, reveals why something is one and not the other; all the while, completely irrespective of what we or anyone else might hope, wish, believe, imagine, or conjecture to be true in nature instead, and for that matter, completely irrespective of what might even be determinable about what is. Genuine science, as the sincere pursuit of truth, is, above all, not influenced in any way by personal preference for what truth should be. Personal preference is excluded altogether from genuine science, in its sincere pursuit of natural truth. This is because history has repeatedly taught the lesson that absolute objectivity most often leads to conclusions consistent with what is observed, while personal preferences clearly lead elsewhere, but have certainly never purposefully led to any kind of truth that is reflected in actual phenomena. In contrast, theoretical physics, by excluding any and all personal preferences, has NEVER done anything but successfully identify natural truth. So, if flawless accuracy is indeed a valid reflection of nature’s truth, then such truth has nothing whatsoever at all to do with what we or anyone else want such truth to be, but instead, exists unto itself, independently of any and all personal preferences; that is, except of course, for a single, inescapable, personal preference alone, which is the preference for observing, or perhaps better stated, the preference for approaching the observation of natural truth, by imagining it accurately. Like nothing else, relativity provides the necessary starting point for achieving such observation, in a very simple way.
The magnificent performance of theoretical physics in accurately mirroring everything in nature, serves as the basis of its undeniable validity in specifying natural truth. Furthermore, absolutely no other model exists that even comes close in performance. The theoretical model is a description of nature that ALWAYS works, EVERY single time it is put to the test, regardless of how many times it is tested, and irrespective of how rigorous the test might be. To date, it has yet to ever log a single failure, even once. In a word, for what it claims to do, that is, describe the most fundamental truths of nature, it is completely error-free. Furthermore, there exists absolutely NOTHING that escapes its inclusion, meaning that theoretical physics describes EVERYTHING existent in nature, and there is nothing manifest in reality that it is not, albeit only in principle alone, capable of describing more accurately than any other way ever conceived.
Hence, any and all other descriptions of nature, scientific or otherwise, regardless of how seemingly removed from the theoretical model’s specification such a description might be, must either be consistent with the theoretical model, or if not, then thereby contradict its clearly demonstrable validity. Put another way, to contradict theoretical physics or its conclusions is to flatly contradict the best (most accurate) description of nature that has ever existed and the only explanation that lacks ambiguity or paradox. Hence, theoretical physics is the foremost means there is for predicting future events and reconstructing past ones.
Thus, when a scientific proposition predicts a particular outcome arising from a particular initial state of events, and that outcome is observed to always be consistent with the prediction, then the proposition is presumed true (although subject to refinement should subsequent observations so infer). Such scientific proposition often involves quantitative measurements. Sophisticated quantitative measure and analysis ordinarily require substantial education. We, however, can circumvent this need by utilizing strictly qualitative measures instead, which, although requiring much less quantity of education, can be just as effective.
To wholly remove all quantitative measure and analysis from any overall description of nature is perhaps impossible. Even qualitative concepts cannot meaningfully describe nature without utilizing at least the most fundamental mathematical relationships (equal, not equal, greater than, less than, perpendicular, tilted, straight, curved) and minimally the simplest integer measures. This is unavoidable, but not overwhelming. The equations of physics themselves are just ‘formal’ (that is, mathematical) descriptions, reflecting deep fundamental concepts intrinsic to nature. And, although they may be wholly new and unfamiliar, requiring both time and effort to grasp, these concepts and their conclusions can be imagined independently of an understanding of any formal description (meaning independently of any and all mathematical notation).
Qualitative ‘measures’ are concepts in physics, both abstract and concrete. Qualitative concepts require much less training to understand than complex quantitative measures do. Nonetheless, these qualitative concepts yield their own conclusions. We can utilize their conclusions, which are ultimately measures too, if they agree with the established quantitative ones that explain nature’s ways so well (albeit purely in terms of quantities). When these qualitative conclusions are clearly consistent with their quantitative equivalents we can use them to describe what is, according to our current understanding, genuinely true in the world. And, we can do so in terms of very tangible concepts, concepts that describe physical reality through easily imaginable ideas alone, and in terms of nothing whatsoever else, except easily imagined ideas, ideas that exist independently of any symbols that mathematics might associate with these ideas.
Behind each and every equation in physics lies an underlying concept, existing unto itself, wholly independently of any formal representation that we, or anyone, might associate with it. These important concepts can be described without their respective math and exclusively of any need for quantitative methods except the most basic. In other words, notwithstanding the necessity for a conceptual grasp of the appropriate abstract yet fundamentally simple concepts that underlie the math but require none, it is wholly possible for a lay person knowing no math whatsoever to come to understand, albeit in the most general of terms, theoretical physics, in amazing depth. Learning about relativity’s space and time is the starting point.
This book is the story of the theory of gravity, the Theory of Relativity, described in a very simple manner, without mathematical notation of any kind. Understanding relativity provides the first step toward seeing why the universe is the way it is, by describing space, time, and the motions of those ‘big’ things (meaning bigger than an atom) which lie within space and time better than any other body of ideas ever imagined. (The smallest things, like individual atoms or smaller, are accurately described by another theory, the theory of energy: the Theory of Quantum Mechanics; besides gravity, there is only energy.) The chapters that follow will explain how relativity is a most natural (that is to say, inescapable) property of a real, meaningfully coherent (in terms of cause and effect, for example) and logically consistent universe, as is the one in which we live. The inseparability of space and time and the relativity of space and time measures that is its consequence emerge, as a most naturally occurring “miracle” that happens independently of anything or anyone “making” it happen. This is the all-encompassing miracle occurring everywhere always that we call existence. Nothing in nature was created, but happened through very natural means, inescapably and unavoidably.
The story of Relativity is an adventure in thought and a fundamental milestone in any genuine pursuit of truth; that is, a pursuit lacking any preconceived prejudice about what truth must be. This part of truth’s description, space and time (gravity), will introduce the reader to what is very likely a completely new way for imagining the universe, and a completely new means for imagining the time and space that a universe so very much seems to require. Relativity demonstrates how time is absolutely inseparable from space, how tics on a clock are no different in the least from gradients on a ruler, and thus how time is exactly the same thing that space is, despite how different each may so convincingly seem to be from the other.
Without an accurate understanding of nature, we are left only with conventional beliefs about nature’s ways and little more, because without valid scientific understanding, what else do we have except belief, and it alone? However, for the sake of genuinely understanding nature, meaning understanding nature in a way which is precisely predictable and demonstrable, we are required to ‘believe’ nothing, because we can ‘know’ instead, utilizing critical thinking, in light of the irrefutable facts of science’s rigorously tested explanations. Using science, we can verify whether something is true, because we can physically test whether it is not! Yes, the Theory of Relativity, just like any other part of theoretical physics, can be tested (although some frontiers in science still await appropriate technology). That is, you can demonstrate relativity’s truth, by means of the apparent impossibility of ever dis proving it. No one yet has even come close to doing so.
As a matter of historical fact, science has put relativity to many, many, many tests: all of them trying to prove it in correct. Irrefutably, the Theory of Relativity has NEVER once ever failed ANY test that it has ever been subjected to – not a single one. To date, it is error free! This makes it and its explanation of ‘why’ as true as anything in the universe can be, because no one has yet ever successfully demonstrated, or better stated, no one has yet to ever even come close to demonstrating its incorrectness – again, not even once! This leaves relativity as absolutely the very best mirroring of space and time that has ever existed, because it so clearly surpasses in accuracy any and all other descriptions ever proposed, without exception.
What is most impressive about theoretical physics, especially relativity, is that absolutely anyone who can read, count, and imagine a concept called “perpendicular” can eventually come to understand this failure-free body of ideas that describes nature better than any others that there have ever been without ever learning any math (just some simple geometry). Even though a very concentrated effort must be made, it takes far more time and motivation than intellect to learn physical theory. To be perfectly clear, anyone at all with an imagination coupled with a genuine desire to understand nature truthfully (BOTH are required) can eventually grasp theoretical physics conceptually – that is, provided that they are fully willing to ignore EVERYTHING that they might believe is true about reality – absolutely every last thing – in order to do so.
Indeed, abandoning our old ways of thinking is paramount to understanding. In actual fact, the better that one can ignore their presumptions about what is true in nature, the more easily and the more rapidly physical theory is understood. If we can manage to abandon our old ideas (for the sake of replacing them with ideas much more consistent with nature’s ways), then we are in a position to acquire new, true, and much richer ones, which are the very sort of ideas that the study of theoretical physics provides in such rich abundance; requiring only that we take the time necessary to think as deeply as we can, about nothing else but a single thing: truth, natural truth. (This point – ignoring one’s presumptions – is absolutely critical to understanding and cannot be over emphasized. If the reader is unwilling to abandon their conventional thinking and are unwilling to embrace the fact that better, far more accurate and precise– and ultimately, much more meaningful – ways of thinking do exist, then they will simply hinder the ease with which these new ideas are grasped, or even exclude altogether their chances for learning them).
The veil of mystery that may seem to surround physics is a mere illusion. It exists only in a lack of a comprehensible exposure to the subject matter, so commonplace amid educational systems that place emphasis elsewhere (like upon doctrine and speculation, for example). This veil of mystery serves, no less than it has throughout human history, only as barrier to beholding what can be the richest, most interesting, and most lasting aspects of nature’s phenomena. Seeing through the illusion that this veil of mystery truly is, a mere illusion, reveals a stunning beauty that lies hidden beneath everything we see and experience.
No mysteries need ever stand between us and our understanding anything. If we simply choose to learn for ourselves the truths that science has worked so tenaciously to identify, often at the price of enormous living sacrifice, we will discover that anyone can explain anything they wish to explain about nature, utilizing the sound conclusions of science as a foundation, because mystery explains nothing at all.
Now there is opportunity to escape the myths and misunderstandings that are at the heart of mystery’s illusion, and do so with a certainty that has yet to ever exist during the entire course of human history (as has been the case for about a century now). This can be done using the concrete and demonstrable foundations of physical science for explaining all phenomena, ultimately, for explaining physical existence itself and even life, using the best description of nature ever conceived. The veil of mystery that might seem to surround relativity in particular and theoretical physics in general is a veil that is no more than a simple lack of common widespread understanding of real science. By learning relativity, we take the first step toward building a ‘true’ picture of reality, by describing it in a demonstrably accurate way, starting with the most fundamental generalized description of nature that there is, again, the Theory of Relativity.
Ultimately, ALL working science is based upon either relativity or its counterpart, quantum mechanics. Together, these two explanations describe nature more accurately than any and all others that have ever existed. None before have even come close to the performance of these two marvels of human achievement. They are, to say the least, a great legacy for humankind; perhaps someday serving its very survival.
This book explains the first of these two great human achievements, because understanding the first of these magnificent models, the Theory of Relativity, is a necessary prerequisite for then understanding the second, the Theory of Quantum Mechanics. The Theory of Quantum Mechanics takes up where relativity leaves off, by describing everything lying within relativity’s time and space, namely energy, which is everything physically existent that isn’t gravity (again, isn’t space and time), like light (radiation) and matter.
If enough people take the couple of months normally necessary to fully grasp theoretical physics’ essentials, albeit only conceptually, then they have the capacity for impacting entire societies and can even change history itself, no less than the harnessing of fire or the invention of language did the same for human culture. Understanding theoretical physics is just as much within one’s intellectual reach, as understanding fire and language are, and like each, can be enlightening as few other insights in our development have ever been or can ever be. Theoretical physics stands at the apex of evolutionary achievement and quite possibly may provide the only hope for preserving complex life on earth should technology be the only means to prevent or postpone its extinction, because the long history of the planet as well as numerous recent astronomical and geological revelations demonstrate that such a catastrophe is an inevitable certainty, even as soon as in the very near future. The more widespread the understanding of science, the better humankind will be equipped to face the challenges that confront us. Widespread understanding by the human community starts first with widespread understanding by each individual in that community.
