lew@ihuxr.UUCP (10/27/83)
Tom Portegys was wondering about the relation of the red shift to the decrease in "c" over time proposed by some creationists. I think the rational is as follows. We assume a constant frequency emitter whose emitted wave length is: lambda(t) = c(t)/nu If this wavelength remains constant in transit, and the wave train slows down with time, an observer will see the wavelength a the time of emission and a lower frequency. Imagine dropping markers onto a conveyor belt which is slowing down. This model can be evaluted quantitatively, with rather spectacular results. The proposed value of c(t) was: c(t) = C * sec( pi/2 * t/T )^2 ; T ~= 6000yrs Here, 't' measures backward in time from the present (easier math). We just happen to live at t=0, so that c(t) is near C and constant for the time being. Anyway, by integrating back in time we can get the time of emission for objects at a distance 's': t(s) = (2/pi) * T * atan( pi/2 * s/(C*T) ) Since sec( atan(x) )^2 = 1+x^2, we get for a red shift as a function of distance: lambda(s) = lambda(0) * ( 1 + (pi/2 * s/(C*T) )^2 ) This means that objects only 4000 light years away would have red shifts of 2. The Andromeda nebula, at 2 million light years (too close, in reality for any observable red shift) would be shifted by a factor of a trillion. The basic lesson here is that you can't squeeze the universe into a pea and get away with it. Lew Mammel, Jr. ihuxr!lew