Re: problems with classical physics

[John Denker <jsd@MONMOUTH.COM>]

At 12:21 PM 1/23/01 -0500, Joseph Bellina wrote:

> There is of course the issue of what you mean by "provided
> impetus" because you are now asking a question about history.  Did, for
> example, the Michaelson-Morley result provide impetus for special
> relativity...one might think so, but it apparently did not.

Excellent point.

I think there were a lot of observable facts that provided _support_ for
the new physics once it got going, even if they didn't provide the initial
impetus.  In this category one could place the stability of the Bohr atom
against radiative decay of the electron's "orbit".

Similarly, the fact that nobody had a theoretical basis for the Rydberg
formula wasn't perceived as a burning problem -- but when a basis did
emerge, it was a huge boost.