Expert: Tom Whiting - 6/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: is it possible that there are different types of waves between the known waves, or is this a finite list?

ANSWER: Hi Brian,
Wavelength has an inverse relationship to frequency; formula
is f = v/wavelength  where v is velocity.  In the special case
of eletromagnetic radiation, v = c where c is the speed of light
in a vacuum.  So the formula becomes
f = c/wavelength.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency
And since there are an infinite number of frequencies, there is
also (or already)....an infinite number of wavelengths.
And since a wave is a wave is a wave, I don't see how you could have
"different types" of waves (whatever that means) with an infinite amount of wavelengths already available, to begin with.
Hope this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you, also, i have read that a study indicates that there is a black hole in the middle of our galaxy, if true, is it possible that our galaxy is the ring of information around the black hole? is this in any way feasible or just a misconception.

Answer
Hi Brian,
Not only our Milky Way galaxy, but it seems all galaxies, at least
the very large massive ones, contain a multi-million solar mass black
hole.  Perhaps it seems that at the initial formation of galaxies,
it was the presence of a black hole that perhaps caused the
formation of the galaxies to begin with, so maybe you need them
to get the process started, back 11-12 billion years ago.

As far as information, there is a wealth of information determined,
and to be determined, using the science of astronomy to interpret
things like how stars form initially...what is the mysterious
dark energy and dark matter that makes up 96% of our Universe?
Scientific questions like that.  But all that information has nothing to do with the central black holes.  As you probably know, anything entering the event horizon of a black hole is forever lost to us, as the escape velocity is greater than light, and since lightspeed is the top speed, nothing...not even light and radio waves, can escape a black hole. So your idea is just a misconception.

I don't know where you're getting your astronomical information....
it's either National Enquirer or one of those many "metaphysics"
websites that go off in left field with their weird (and
un-wieldable) theories, with reams and reams of convuluting and confusing discussions that make little sense as far as science is concerned. Science simplifies things (E = mc squared)...not make
it more complicated and exasperating, like metaphysics does.
So metaphysics is not science.  Also avoid publications that
"sensationalize" astronomy just to sell magazines and publications.
Astronomy is the most sensationalized subject out there for that reason...to sell something to you. Avoid them like the black plague.

I suggest you stick to just the facts...I know it's boring,
an non-sensationalized, but stick with:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com
http://www.spaceweather.com
http://www.spaceflightnow.com
and the astronomer's real magazine, "Sky And Telescope"....
just to get the real, non-sensationalized skinny of the true facts.
Science, and astronomy in particular, are interesting enough without
all that "sensationalism" and 'way out' stuff on those other websites.  (Most of which is highly misleading and untrue anyway).
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA