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Eric,

“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is 
possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is 
impossible, he is very probably wrong.” – Arthur C. Clarke

You have to put yourself in the mindset of “established” science, in 
this case established science in the 1890s.  At that point in time it 
was generally accepted that electricity, magnetism, and light were 
explained by the same mathematical descriptions. In the early 1860s 
James Clerk Maxwell calculated that the speed of propagation of an 
electromagnetic field is approximately that of the speed of light. If 
you will, experimental evidence of that “fact”.

Thus, in our simplified explanation (and skipping over much scientific 
history) electricity, magnetism, and light were all covered by 
electromagnetic theory. Part of that theory is the concept that you 
could not have or therefore measure a stationary local maximum for any 
of the three. The theory was widely accepted.  Now let me digress a bit. 
Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) laid the basis for scientific thinking for 
almost 2,000 years: universal truths can be known from particular things 
via induction -- by just think about them. Fast forward to Galileo (1564 
– 1642). Galileo championed a major change in the scientific method, 
investigation by physical experimentation. You could not just discern 
scientific information/facts by thinking about them; you had to prove 
them in the physical world. (Everyone “knew/knows” that if a heavier 
ball and a lighter one are dropped from the same height at the same 
time, the heavier ball would hit the ground first.) Science in the 1800s 
was in the great age of experimentation, actually measuring to prove a 
fact or theory.

In my train analogy, say the train is moving at 1,000 miles per hour. 
Now try to think of a way to physically jump onto the train from the 
platform. I think we would all accept the fact that it is impossible to 
physically jump onto the train and therefore impossible to physically 
measure the seat.  End of discussion. As a 12-14 year Albert Einstein 
doesn’t “waste” his time thinking about how to get on the train (I 
assume he accepted that as impossible). In his mind, Einstein says 
forget about how to get on the train, I’ll just imagine I’m on the 
train; then what? His first major breakthrough; no physical 
experimentation, just a thought experiment. Then he is able to envision 
the physics of that experience.  He realizes that if he is riding on the 
light beam there would be a local maximum. If he is correct, he realizes 
that light did not adhere to the theory of electromagnetism.

Today we say what’s the big deal?  Well, pick some widely accepted 
scientific theory (what killed the dinosaurs, the age of the universe, 
etc.), think about it, and come up with an alternative theory.  Then try 
to get the scientific community to take you seriously.  Now try it as a 
12 -14 year old.

Tom Lesser


On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 12:04 PM, Eric Siegel wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology 
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related 
> institutions.
> 
> *****************************************************************************
>
> This is exactly where it loses me.  You can get the measurement if you 
> are riding on the train, and you can get the measurement if you are 
> riding on the beam of light.  So where's the problem?
>
> eric
>
> On Jun 13, 2013, at 11:49 AM, Tom Lesser <[log in to unmask]> 
> wrote:

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