Re: universe expanding, not from any particular spot

[Ludwik Kowalski <KowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

Newtonian mechanics implies existence of an absolute frame
of reference. After laughing ants started communicating and
decided that it is not reasonable to use local frames of reference.
They decided to describe individual trajectories in the absolute
frame (the frame of "fixed stars"). Why not? It is available.
Ludwik Kowalski

John Denker wrote:

> At 08:10 PM 8/13/00 -0400, Ludwik Kowalski wrote:
> > In the spirit of Newtonian mechanics trajectories of ants
> > (residing on the expanding balloon) are straight lines
> > intersecting at one point. That was the 'spot' to which
> > Lisa was probably referring.
>
> I don't think so.  On a spherical balloon, an obvious symmetry
> argument says that no such special point can exist.
>
> Suppose you are one of the ants.  You will observe that all the other
> ants are expanding in straight lines directly away -- but if you announce
> (based on this observation) that you are the center of the universe, all
> the other ants will laugh at you.