A Rational Cosmology: The Model of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum has been often employed to quantify various types of light so as to relate them to each other in magnitude. The unit of measurement for said spectrum has been either a frequency or a wavelength, implying a preconceived notion on the part of the physicists designing the spectrum that light is a wave. Even though this designation has been shown to be incorrect, this does not mean that the quantitative relationships referred to on the spectrum are similarly incorrect.

If yellow light is said to have a wavelength of 600 nanometers and violet light -- one of 400 nanometers, the true statement in that claim is that the ratio of units of magnitude of yellow light to violet light is three to two.

The error made is simply in the name of the unit, since the span of each unit is selected arbitrarily, and the magnitude of violet light could well be selected to be 400 of a unit thus defined, with the stipulation, as always, that the units be uniform and that their proportionality reflect the actual proportionality of the magnitudes of the existents they describe.

A similar error might be conceivable if another confused society decided to conflate time with mass, and measure time in kilograms. Though the unit of measurement might be wrong, the internal consistency of the time-measuring system might in fact be accurate.

If a given period of time were said to have a unit of a kilogram, and a period of time twice as long -- a unit of two kilograms, then the system can still give us an accurate tool for relating units of time to each other. It is only needed to substitute "second" or another appropriate name for "kilogram," and the system will work flawlessly.

The electromagnetic spectrum, furthermore, is a brilliant system for relating light to phenomena that would be measured on the same scale and by the same units (though not units of wavelength), including the commonly unexpected non-visible phenomena such as infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and (the misnamed) microwave radiation. It is a tool for real information about light, and the refutation of the theory that light is a wave will do nothing to nullify the spectrum's validity and usefulness; it could be preserved in entirety, even with present magnitudes intact, provided that the name of the unit using which light is measured is adjusted so as to reflect the unique nature of light, distinct from either particles or waves.

Read other parts of "A Rational Cosmology" by clicking here.