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The Bohr
Challenge
Introduction and basis of the principle of “Look to nature to see
how creation/Creation works”
Around 1910, at about age
twenty-five, Neils Bohr was a physicist looking into the nature of
the atom and the problem physicist were having at explaining the
atomic structure. His novel approach to looking into the nature of
the atom was one of the several catalysts that revolutionized
physics and the understanding of the nature of the of the physical
world.
The then current approach to physics was to force fit facts into a
pre-existing model that had successfully explain other aspects of
atomic particles like electrons. Bohr’s approach was radical and
went in direct opposition to the prevailing view of how things were
being explained. He directly challenged the existing
mind set. Bohr’s approach was to find a model or viewpoint that
explained the observed facts as they were rather than trying to fit
facts to an existing theory.
In essence he ask, “What model explain what I see?” and he had no
judgement on what that model may be. Although Bohr’s particular
conclusions were ultimately proven incorrect, his approach was
unsurpassed in breaking the log-jam of conflicting and seemingly
irreconcilable ideas that existed at the time.
The issue centered around the Rutherford model of the atom. Around
the beginning of the twentieth century, physicists were faced with
some troublesome dilemmas. Although Ernest Rutherford developed an
impressive model for the atom that effectively explained the
existence of the atomic nucleus, the model was not compatible with
the
electromagnetic theory of waves in vogue at the time.
In Rutherford’s model, the electrons in the atom revolved around the
nucleus in a way similar to the way planets revolve around the sun.
Since the nucleus was heavily positively charged and the electrons
negatively charged, the electron would experience an acceleration as
a result of the electrostatic force. According to classical
electromagnetic theory, an electron under the influence of an
acceleration would have to emit energy, generating electromagnetic
radiations, and lose or “give off” its energy. [Accelerating
electrons is how radio waves and other electromagnetic waves such as
television and microwaves are produced.] Losing energy, the electron
would then have to spiral toward the nucleus and collapse the atom.
Calculations indicated the atom would collapse within one
hundred-millionth of a second. Obviously something was wrong; the
evidence demonstrated atoms existed in nature but that atoms were
not collapsing. Although the model was impressive and explained many
of the phenomena encountered by physicists, it didn’t quite explain
everything. Obviously something was incorrect about the thinking.
Some assumption had to be in error somewhere. Bohr studied this
problem and contemplated its solution.
After some time, Bohr reasoned that nature could not be wrong. He
reasoned that the model and assumptions that were being made were
somehow wrong - at least to when they were applied to the motion of
electrons in atoms. In knowing that current approach was wrong, Bohr
felt that is criticizing something without providing a way to make
it right is of little value. However, the solution that Bohr found
was very different than the current thinking. In fact it was so
different, that he kept the manuscript locked in his desk for almost
two year before he decided to submit it for publication. His paper
was published in 1913 and turn the world of physics upside down.
In the paper he stated his approach. That approach was that because
the motion of the electron in the atom defied any of the existing
models, he found it necessary to postulate the rule that elector
would follow. What was important about his approach was that he
presented an observation of how the universe seemed to be working
and accepted it as fact. In looking at what he said in another way,
he said, “This is the way it is. Starting from this fact, here are
the statements that can be made and the conclusions that can be
drawn.....” He then acted on the postulates that were based on his
observations to develop a model of the atom and atomic structure.
Based on the assumptions he made the model corresponded to what was
observed.
Bohr’s solution was actually very straight forward and can be
summarized in three steps. One, look at what is and postulate the
way the universe works based on what is disregarding the past and
the way the physicists thought the universe worked. Two, see what
conclusions can be drawn based on those postulates. Three, see if
the conclusions effectively explain the observable information.
Although the model of the atom derived from his postulates was
eventually replaced by more sophisticated models of the atomic
structure, his approach and model allowed physicists to move out of
the era of classical physics into the arena of quantum mechanics.
Many physicists were holding their model and their explanation of
how the universe worked as sacred and then tried to fit the facts to
the model. Bohr’s desire to put the facts [what is] before the
theory [what I think is happening or how I think the world should
work] revolutionized physics. In doing what he did, the world was
irrevocably changed. Bohr’s approach and his postulates provided the
bridge in understanding to revolutionize the world.
There are several aspects of the Bohr approach that are relevant to
creativity. The first is Bohr offered a way that could be used to
correct the discrepancy he saw. To get a creative solution we must
offer a solution that corrects the issue rather than just
criticizing what doesn’t work. It doesn’t matter whether the
solution initially works or not. The issue is to offer a solution
that could work rather than just criticize. Quite simply, a mind
that believes a solution is possible will see a problem differently
than a mind that doesn’t believe a solution is possible. So too the
Releasing Your Unlimited Creativity. It is a way that is offered to
address a discrepancy. It offers a solution to what seems to be a
lack of understanding about the nature of reality such that an
individual is capable of fully creating the experiences they have.
The second aspect is that observations and conclusion made about
free electrons that were accelerated did not correspond to the
observations and conclusions made about electrons bound in atoms.
What was not initially realized is different “laws” or principles
dominate different environments. This does not mean the there are
different laws or principles. Rather all the principles and laws are
present, only the environment causes different one’s to dominate.
One cannot assume the principles that work to explain a phenomenon
in one particular environment will work exactly the same way in a
complete different environment. We must work with the principles
that apply to the environment in which we find ourselves
From a
creativity perspective we must become aware of the
environment in which we desire to create. What will work for one
environment may not work for another. It doesn’t mean we need
different principles. Rather we just need to know where to apply
them when. This statement in turn becomes a guiding principle in the
Releasing Your Unlimited Creativity material. It is to go with an
approach that works for your situation. Look at your facts
and fashion a model that allows your facts to be integrated
into a wholeness for how your world works.
Let effectiveness be the measure of truth. This recommendation
becomes an even more sound approach when one incorporates
Einstein’s postulates into their creative endeavors.
The concepts discussed here and the concept of Creative Relativity
introduced based on Einstein’s assumptions about nature and the laws
of physics give rise to the principle used in the Releasing Your
Unlimited Creativity material to “look to nature to see how
creation/Creation works.” The reason for this is the laws of
creation and creativity are the same everywhere. They may just look
different because of the environment in which they are applied.
Nature is unbiased by our individual perceptions and what we want to
believe about how creation/Creation works. Nature provides a more
impartial view and application of the laws of creation.
Related topics
Mind set and tunnel vision
Einstein’s approach and assumptions
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