Page 113 - Coincidences in the Bible and in Biblical Hebrew

COINCIDENCES IN THE BIBLE AND IN BIBLICAL HEBREW
92 92 COINCIDENCES IN THE BIBLE AND IN BIBLICAL HEBREW

the composition of matter, as revealed by quantum mechanics; and there are
symmetries in the laws of nature. Symmetry is a most fundamental concept in
how modern cosmologies perceive our universe.
A recent book by Lederman (a Nobel laureate) and Hill (2004) discuss all
these symmetries and what they imply. We will refer here only to some basic ones,
revealed in our universe in the time-space dimensions. The exposition herewith
follows mainly the quoted source.

The concept of symmetry in space and time is tightly connected to another
concept: that of continuum. Scientists call space a continuum, because so far, no
experiments have indicated that space is not continuous. This implies that there is
no smallest step through which a subatomic particle, like an electron or a quark,
or an atom or a planet in space needs to move, in order for the laws of physics
to be valid, because there is no such smallest step. Likewise, time is continuous,
and so far, there have not been any experimental results to indicate that there is a
smallest step of time beyond which one cannot cross.
The experimental fact that both space and time are, in essence, continuous
allows certain symmetries that are the cornerstones of modern cosmology. What

is implied here by symmetry is that the laws of nature, as we know them, and the
fundamental constants of nature—like the speed of light or Newton’s gravitational
constant—remain the same irrespective of the state of motion of the observer, the
point in space he or she occupies, or the time when observations are made. In
fact, as asserted by Lederman and Hill (2004), the laws of physics themselves are

essentially defined by symmetry principles (therein, 98).
Examples for such laws are given by Noether’s very fundamental theorem,
which states that “for every continuous symmetry of the laws of physics, there

must exist a conservation law; For every conservation law, there must exist a con-
tinuous symmetry” (therein, 97). One example for the realization of this law is the
law of the conservation of momentum, which is derivable from the experimental
fact that the laws of physics are invariant under spatial continuous translation
(moving in any direction in space would not change the observed laws of nature).
In other words, from the point of view of the laws of nature, any point in space is
equivalent to any other point in space. From this symmetry, the law of the conser-
vation of momentum can be deduced in compliance with Noether’s theorem .
Likewise, since the laws of physics are invariant under translations in time—

namely, there in also continuous symmetry in time—the law of conservation
of energy can be deduced based on Noether’s theorem . Finally, the law of the
conservation of angular momentum results from a third continuous symmetry
in space—namely, that the laws of physics are rotationally invariant. The latter
symmetry means that if an observer changes his or her angular position by simple
rotation, he or she will still observe the same laws of nature.