Lucy Skywalker: Graeffs experiments and the second law of thermodynamics

[Sunsettommy]

Tallbloke's Talkshop

June 11,2012

Guest post from ‘Lucy Skywalker’.

EXCERPT:

Last time I described my visit to Roderich Graeff’s seminar. Now we look at the experiments in detail. Experiment trumps theory. Experiment is the final arbiter, as Einstein said. Only after looking at the experiments do I want to consider the theoretical elements.

HISTORY AND CONTEXT

One has to be aware of the depth to which the Second Law has been held most sacrosanct of all the laws of physics. Eddington said famously:

“If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell’s equations—then so much the worse for Maxwell’s equations. If it is found to be contradicted by observation—well these experimentalists do bungle things sometimes. But if your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I can give you no hope; there is nothing for it but to collapse in deepest humiliation.”

LINK