And lo on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:19:35 -0000, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> 
 

did spake, saying:

> Phil Cook wrote:
>> And lo on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:41:46 -0000, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrco
m>  

>> did spake, saying:
>>
>>> Phil Cook wrote:
>>>> On a more serious note can anyone explain refraction in terms of  

>>>> particles.
>>>
>>> Yes.
>>>
>>> http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Princeton-Science-Library/dp/06911
25759/ref=pd_bbs_1
>> Thanks, though I note one commentator said "The problem is that we  

>> never get an explanation for why the vectors point the way the do, ar
e  

>> rotated just so, etc.
>
> That's the wrong book for *that* question. You asked "can anyone expla
in  

> refraction in terms of particles". That's what the book answers.
>
> That person is complaining that we don't know why the laws of physics 
 

> are the way they are. Well, yes. But I don't think you'll ever solve  

> that for the most current theories.

so he's *describing* refraction in terms of particles not *explaining* i
t  

:-)

> The book for that is this:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Character-Physical-Law-Modern-Library/dp/0679601
279/ref=pd_bbs_10/105-9307687-6115653
>
> I also recommend "six easy pieces" and "six not so easy pieces".
>
>  > Without that it's simply voodoo, and nothing has been
>> explained."
>
> He gives you a handful of rules (simplified to ignore polarization) to
  

> tell you how to figure out what's going to happen. This is stuff you  

> determine by making measurements. He doesn't explain why the universe 
 

> picked those rules, no.
>
> never mind. Amazon UK stocks it, but I'll check out my local
>> store first.
>
> It's cool. Check out the two "six pieces" parts too.
>
> The lectures on computation are from a very physical POV, fwiw. Stuff 
 

> like explaining the quantum tensors that would let you build a truly  

> quantum computer. I got very little out of it except for one or two  

> insights that aren't really very useful unless you're arguing about  

> turing machines or perfect randomness or some such.

Nada at various stores looks like I'm Amazon bound.

-- 

Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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