Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken G
What makes a coordinate system useful for doing physics is having a mapping from the coordinates to distances (a metric).
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Yes, and my wording failed my intent. What I meant was that regardless of which maping method you like to use for the vase, if you change the vase, either you will find the new coordinates of the vase will be different on the map or another map method will be needed. The point is to focus on the importance of a changing vase as a causal action.
Quote:
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...However, given the way we read extra things into the situation, it seems the more "objective" perspective to say that the Earth orbits the Sun, as it shows that the Earth does not need to be stationary, and we do not need to invoke "coordinate forces" (like centrifugal force) to understand what is happening. So on that basis some claim that this is the "truth" of the matter.
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Yes, and I think the difference in the spacetime effects that corresponds to the body's gravity is a sure sign as to which is the more likely correct view as to which object is orbiting which, even though the GR math (if you allow this abuse) allows either.
This is better seen, I think, when we regress to the antipodal apples scenario where apples on opposite ends of the globe fall simultaneously toward the ground so a fixed Earth model (relative to the apples at least) is superior than any other model for human semi-reality consumption.
