Why Isaac Newton’s laws still give physicists a lot to think about

THERE are two sorts of theoretical physicists: those that use the right equation for calculating distances in space-time, and people who don’t.

Obviously, I’m being a bit tongue in cheek right here, however I’m severe once I say there’s a actual bifurcation. The two formulations of this equation for distance – what we name the metric – are equal and when used accurately will give the identical solutions for all calculations. But every group has causes for believing that one is extra pure than the opposite. Particle physicists have a tendency to make use of one; relativists (folks skilled basically relativity) have a tendency to make use of the opposite. I’m among the many group of particle physicists who use …