OT: Speed of light [was Re: Why not a Python compiler?]

[Erik Max Francis]

I V wrote:

> On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:07:49 -0800, Erik Max Francis wrote:
>> experience.  The notion of impetus -- where an object throw moves in a
>> straight line until it runs out of impetus, then falls straight down --
>> is clearly contrary to everyday experience of watching two people throw
>> a ball back and forth from a distance, since the path of the ball is
>> clearly curved.
> 
> It's clear _to us_ because when we think about such things, we think in 
> Newtonian terms. I'm not at all sure it would have been clear to people 
> in the middle ages; when you throw a ball, it whizzes by so fast, it's 
> hard to be sure how it's actually moving.

Hence why I suggested standing back from two people throwing it back and 
forth.  If they lob it high, it's hard to miss that the pass is curved.

-- 
Erik Max Francis && max at alcyone.com && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
  San Jose, CA, USA && 37 18 N 121 57 W && AIM, Y!M erikmaxfrancis
   Man has wrested from nature the power to make the world a desert or
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