Re: Theory acceptance

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi,

On the Tesla list we search for tools, methods, and things that "help us 
make better Tesla coils".  There are many wonderful discoveries and new 
science out there that, although being quite valid, "does not" help us make 
better Tesla coils.

If it is found tomorrow that atoms are made of cheese, would the new 
science of cheesy atoms be allowed on the list?  A simple question would 
have to be answered.  Does it "help us make better Tesla coils"?

If nothing really changes for us and the subatomics being made from cheese 
really does not change things in our would, we "don't" care....  If making 
our top terminals out of cheese will enhance the cheese particles to get 
longer streamers, we "do" care...

So lets suppose EM theory falls apart tomorrow and we suddenly have a nice 
new theory.  Do "we care"?  If the new theory has elements to it that will 
help us make better Tesla coils, Yes!  If all the old EM assumptions work 
just the same and the new theory does not help us make better Tesla coils, 
we don't care...


But, in many cases, it is not that simple.  Suppose Terry says that we all 
need to wind our coils with light blue magnet wire since that is the color 
of streamers and they will like that and grow longer.  Since this great new 
thought would help us make better Tesla coils, of course it is on topic and 
happily accepted!

But now Paul says, "Terry there is no reason that the wire color would 
affect streamers...  I just ran a bunch of models with blue and 16777215 
other wire colors and the streamers should all be just the same..."

Terry responds that Paul's models must be wrong otherwise why would 
streamers be blue...  Paul questions if Terry has done any verification or 
used any real science to make his conclusions about wire colors...

Then Gerry builds two identical coils, one with light blue wire and the 
other with black wire...  Gerry finds that the streamer lengths are exactly 
the same!!...

Eventually, everyone is convinced that the blue wire theory does not have 
merit and it is forgotten...

Until 2 years later...  When someone else says "we all need to wind our 
coils with white magnet wire!!"  This time we immediately say they are 
wrong and that there is no experimental or scientific reason wire color 
makes any difference...  The poster is saddened that we will not listen to 
his "new" idea and we all want to see "proof"...  Many are accused of being 
closed minded...  Many are accused not doing good science...

Inevitably, someone will mention that lightning comes from white 
clouds...  Someone else will counter that lighting really comes from dry 
grey clouds...   NO!  The clouds just look dark grey because it is 
raining!!....  Somehow... we are then talking about what color rain clouds 
are...

Of course, these are the usual "bad" scenarios...  Folks don't seem 
bothered when a new idea works great ;-))  I wish I could detect the good 
from the bad right off (and get away with it :o))  But I just let you all 
work it out until it gets to the point of being worthless and it won't go 
away...

As moderator, I don't steer the boat in a perfectly straight line.  I just 
grab the wheel right before it hits the big rocks...  Sometimes, I get 
there too late ;-))

Cheers,

	Terry