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Cosmology
229 magnetic compass brought in its neighbourhood would not be deflected by it. But as the earth is in motion round its axis, to an observer situated on a distant planet, the conductor which is stationary relative to the earth, will appear to be in motion. Now we have just said that there is no magnetic field round a stationary electric charge, but a charge in motion always gives rise to a magnetic field. (See adjoining figure) So if the distant observer were to make his measurements on
A represents a metal sphere charged
with electricity. The arrow indicates the terrestrial conductor he would its motion. Since moving charge is a find the presence of the magnetic
sort of electric current, it is shown
surrounded by lines of inagnetic force. field. It means there is no magnetic field round the conductor relative to the observer on the earth, but there is a magnetic field round the same conductor with respect to the stellar observer. We arrive at the strange conclusion that the charged conductor is giving rise to and not giving rise to a magnetic field at the same time. What is the absolute truth ? Is there a magnetic field round the conductor or is there none ? No answer can be given to this question, Einstein says, “We can only know the relative truth, the Real Truth is known only to the Universal Observer." Universal Observer of Einstein is none else but the Almighty, the Ommiscient with infinite powers of knowledge and bliss.
According to Einstein, even the measurement of Space and Time is relative. Says Eddington in the Nature of the Physical World :
"A fast moving traveller lives more slowly. His cycle of digestion and fatigue; the development of his body from youth to age; the watch which ticks in his waistcoat pocket; all these must be slowed down in the same ratio. If the speed of his travel is very great, we may find that, whilst the stay-at-home individual has aged 70 years, the traveller has aged one year."
This probably furnishes an explanation of the long age of thousands of years enjoyed by Devas* and of the long durations after which hunger is excited within them. It is quite possible that the Vimâns (aeroplanes) in which they live and move are moving with tremendous velocity relatively to us.
Thus we see that the truth investigated by science is relative and not absolute and its theories are ever liable to change. The reader might well
* J. L. Jaini in the faina Hostel Magazine Vol. VII, Number 3, page 10 has observed that there is a fixed proportion between the respiration, feeling of hunger and the age of the celestial beings. The food interval is 1,000 years and the respiration one fortnight for every Ságar of age. The proportion of food interval to respiration is thus, 1 to 24000. He has further observed that if a man lived like a god, we should have a legitimate feeling of hunger only once in the day. A normal person has 18 respirations to the minute, or 18 x 60 x 2425920 in a day, roughly 24,000.
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