Well, Bartholomew, I do have some answers for you and these are based on observation and items I HAVE worked with.
First of all, your PHd Friend is simply wrong and let me explain why by providing you some REAL case situations and not just "I'm right because that is the way I interpret it."
Have you ever wondered why our missiles "manned spacecraft" are launched primarily from Florida to the East? This is because in order to reach orbital velocity the speed of the earth's rotation is added to that of the spacecraft. If we launch a polar orbit spy type satellite we launch it from Vandenberg because and a larger booster is required to obtain orbital velocities due to the fact that the earth cannot provide its boost in speed. Launching from Florida also provides a launch further south or closer to the equator so that the craft is starting at a higher velocity. A European company is looking at launch sites as close to the equator as possible to provide much greater initial velocity. The same missiles (for example the Atlas) would not reach orbit when flown over the poles toward the former Soviet Union with a nuclear warhead no heavier than a Gemini capsule, but will reach orbital velocity when fired East from Florida. Rotation of the Sun has NOTHING to do with this because the numbers work regardless of the location of the Sun, with the exception for very minor corrections for solar and moon gravitational pulls.
Bartholomew, these orbital parameters are REAL and must be considered when calculating spacecraft fuel, weight, thrust and guidance. If I were to launch a spacecraft to the West it would require an enormous change in the above variables.
Wind rotations of weather patterns are aided by the Earth's rotation and maintain opposite patterns south of the equator. A hurricane above the equator rotates in one direction and the opposite direction below--so do tornados--and surprisingly, so does the water draining in your sink, unless effected by other forces.
Helen, please feel free to jump in and correct me on the following because it has been a while since studying the following relativity theories:
A test that is well documented is that of proving Einstein's theory of relativity. Let me start by explaining. If I am inside a train-car moving at 100 miles per hour (to make it easy) and threw a ball from the front to the back at exactly 100 miles per hour then a man standing on the ground would visualize the ball as standing still. If thrown from the back to the front it would appear to be moving 200 miles per hour (same as launching a spacecraft due east). To the people on the train the ball is going 100 MPH regardless of direction; HOWEVER, if I turn on a flashlight at the back of train going the speed of light (and we know this is only theoretical and a train could not do this and remain intact, but for explaining relativity it works) the light would never reach the front of the train because light speed is absolute and could not go faster than light speed even to the person sitting on the non-moving ground watching.
In the 60's a test was performed by using two aircraft both launched from the same base on the equator using two synchronized atomic clocks. One traveled east and the other traveled west. One clock moving East (high speed because of plane speed plus rotation of the earth) was behind the atomic clock in the other plane (plane speed minus rotation of the earth) by that amount calculated by Einstein, the speed of the rotation of the Earth and accurate as much as the Atomic clocks would allow. Thus, proving not only Einstein's theory, but also proving the rotating of the Earth very accurately.
What Helen was explaining to you is that in order for the stars to appear to rotate around the Earth (assuming your theory the Earth is standing still) is that you would not have to go very far from the Earth before the matter would be exceeding the speed of light which is impossible without turning into pure energy. The Earth is rotating very fast and I can privide you with that distance if you want, but I would guess that it would not be very far compared to stars visible to our telescopes. This compares to that of a helicopter whose blades making a popping sound as the tips of the blades break the sound barrier. Another interesting point is that of a helicopter moving forward is very much like my orbital discussion above. The blades moving toward the front of the helicopter are moving at the forward speed of the helicopter PLUS the maximum blade speed at 90 degrees. The other blade is traveling much slower in relation to the air. Therefore this is the reason helicopters usually have blades which adjust in pitch as the rotate to maintain a constant lift over the entire span of the craft when it is traveling fast--this is especially important for military craft that move very quickly.
I think there should be enough information here to show that the Earth rotates, but, yes, I cannot answer the question if ET exists, but if they do, my faith in God and Jesus Christ will remain a strong as ever regardless of their story; they may be heathens like many humans.
You see, Bartholomew, I do not need to read the papers, I have seen the website and if the papers are proponents of a rotating universe around the Earth I have just proven it wrong. I spent too many hours programming chips to make a satellite go over the pole and over a certain city or area while cancelling the effects of the rotating earth. Much like aiming a boat at an angle to cross and flowing river to reach the far bank at a certain point.
Have a good day, and yes, Bartholomew, I would like to see you provide me with rebuttals to these items, besides "that is what the Bible says" because the sun setting, rising, and standing still would be the proper way to describe the movement of the Earth today.
Edit added later: I calculated the distance where the speed of light would start and unless I got a number in the wrong place it is significantly shorter than one light year. This would pretty much eliminate all stars in our visible universe. But, the universe would definitely not have a lack of energy.
By the way, please, do not tell me what I believe, but won't admit. That just further decreases the legitimacy of your argument.
Thank you...........
[ October 21, 2002, 12:51 AM: Message edited by: Phillip ]
