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My father is a generally intelligent person, however he has latched onto a theory which I believe to be completely incorrect.

He doesn't believe in gravity, but rather subscribes to an 'Electrical Theory of the Universe', see the website The Electric Universe.

I've looked into it enough to realize that it flies completely in the face of current physics models, but I'm not qualified to debunk it. I know it's almost certainly incorrect - extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence and all - but I can't demonstrate it.

So my question is this: Are there any observable behaviors which are inconsistent with the theory's predictions, or are there any demonstrable disproofs for this theory? What evidence can I present against it?

Edit: Sorry for the delay in this, but here's a link to a series of Youtube videos on the electrical theory of the universe (which seems to be the term used by it's proponents, alternatively called the plasma theory).

6-part Youtube video:

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    $\begingroup$ Could you describe the electrical theory? $\endgroup$
    – Dan
    Dec 31, 2011 at 21:32
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    $\begingroup$ Out of curiosity, how does the electrical theory of the universe explain the behaviour of 3 seperated bodies/point particles, which all attract each other? $\endgroup$
    – Nikolaj-K
    Jan 1, 2012 at 0:04
  • $\begingroup$ I found the question interesting because physicists extrapolate to the universe in general from their measurements of the behavior of electromagnetic beams. Maybe instead of "electrical theory of the universe" an "electromagnetic theory of the universe" will be more useful. $\endgroup$
    – Zeynel
    Jan 1, 2012 at 17:05
  • $\begingroup$ You can look up the "electromagnetic worldview" and Max Abraham for some pointers. It is essentially discredited by relativity, which ruled out mechanical ethers. $\endgroup$
    – Ron Maimon
    Jan 1, 2012 at 20:34
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    $\begingroup$ This question would definitely be much improved by linking to some resources describing the "electrical theory." $\endgroup$
    – David Z
    Jan 2, 2012 at 3:04

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From my cursory overview of the stuff these people have online, there are a few really glaring problems:

  1. First and foremost, it doesn't appear that the electric universe model makes any quantitative predictions. I don't see any models for how stars and galaxies are supposed to form and behave, just a bunch of words about how gravitational models make too many assumptions or rely on too much theory, whatever that means. Really, this theory is not even wrong.
  2. Also, it appears that these models don't really discuss the equivalence principle. If you're going to use electricity to explain gravity, you need to explain why the rate at which something falls is independent of that object's charge (minus electric self-force), and also independent of that object's mass. Why do all objects near the Earth fall with the same acceleration?
  3. While dark matter and dark energy are problems, they solve problems that arise within a quantitative model. In particular, the standard $\Lambda$CDM models very precisely predict the relative abundance of hydrogen and helium in our universe. If the 'electric' universe can't do that, then it has a bigger problem than dark matter/dark energy
  4. Also, these people seem to believe in an eternal static universe with an infinite extent. They need to explain how they resolve Olbers' paradox

This list is hardly exhaustive, but these are a few starting points.

EDIT: This theory appears to be describing this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_cosmology

Plasma cosmology doesn't predict Hubble's Law, the relative abundances of the elements or the cosmic microwave background.

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    $\begingroup$ a p.s. to this would be that all 20th century particle physics data is ignored by this proposed "theory", standard model and all. $\endgroup$
    – anna v
    Jan 29, 2013 at 4:47
  • $\begingroup$ @Giffyguy: great. Point me to a calculation where the electric universe calculates the relative helium abundance correctly in the absence of dark matter. $\endgroup$
    – Zo the Relativist
    Apr 25, 2015 at 3:10
  • $\begingroup$ @Giffyguy, um, that's not what $\Lambda$CDM does. And the existing cosmological models come at the relative abundance of dark matter using various methodologies, all of which predict the same result. $\endgroup$
    – Zo the Relativist
    Apr 25, 2015 at 4:01
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    $\begingroup$ Seriously, how can this model pass both solar system tests and explain galactic dynamics, AND predict the correct helium abundance? Show me that link, rather than some preachy youtube article about skepticism. I'm applying skepticism to the positive statemetns your'e making. I'm already willing to consider alternatives to dominant models. I'm just not willing to consider crap. $\endgroup$
    – Zo the Relativist
    May 4, 2015 at 16:35
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    $\begingroup$ @JerrySchirmer You know what, I apologize if I offended you (or insulted your work) with the preachy YouTube video and my other comments (I deleted them because I am currently unprepared to defend them). I really appreciate your detailed rebuttals, because it gives me something to track down and research, even if it ends up demonstrating to me why the EU theories are truly indefensible. I'm going to do more research on this, and see if I can get any of the PhDs from the Electric Universe community to weigh in on these specific problems. I'll let you know if I find anything interesting. $\endgroup$
    – Giffyguy
    May 4, 2015 at 17:01

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