A computer model predicting damage potential, calibrated qualitatively with actual damages to dam spillways, is used to indicate the locations and relative intensity of damage for several spillway profiles. While damage is more likely associated with steeply sloping channels, because of the high flow velocities achieved in them, damage can occur in nearly horizontal surfaces if there is some other mechanism for achieving the necessary flow speeds. In a hypothetical spillage of water over the rim of the Grand Canyon, there are numerous locations at which cavitation destruction of the rock would be as great or greater than the worst damage ever seen in actual dam spillway. The process of damage by cavitation appears to be a likely mechanism for rapid removal of rock in channels experiencing catastrophic flows of high speed shallow water with little air bubble content. Four different theories of variable fundamental physical constants are reviewed and compared.
Special emphasis is placed on problems of interest to the creationist.
The number of explanations for difficult and diverse diluvial problems available from these types of theories, as well as their application to the problems of light from distant galaxies and radioactivity, makes this field a most interesting one from the creationist perspective. The feasibility and implications of variations in the fundamental constants are examined. Although such proposed changes appear at present to be strongly ad hoc, it is argued that this is not a fatal deficiency. The apolgetic function of theorizing is briefly discussed. The distinction between operation and origin science is emphasized.