NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Sextants with Polarizing filters
From: Peter Fogg
Date: 2006 Jan 27, 13:05 +1100
From: Peter Fogg
Date: 2006 Jan 27, 13:05 +1100
From: Jim Hickey I was being a little tonque in cheek in directing those concerned to Bell's theorem and quantum mechanics to explain the 3 polarizing lens phenomenon. Though it is interesting, it is a fair departure from the topic of celestial navigation. Agreed that the other analogies mentioned are more palatable but would only make the point that it is wise to keep in mind the limits of various theories. Pretending the earth is flat is pretty good in some situations, Newton's laws of motion work pretty good for the speed of most boats but you have to turn to relativity to set up satellites and make GPS work. ________________________________________ Don't apologize, Jim, it lead to a fascinating trip through dimly understood ideas. To my mind, such pushing back of the frontiers of my own ignorance is a much valued feature that this List occasionally contributes.
