Is the speed of light truly constant in all directions?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the constancy of the speed of light and its implications in different reference frames, referencing the Michelson-Morley experiment and Einstein's theory of relativity. Participants debate whether light appears to travel faster in one direction due to Earth's motion and explore the feasibility of creating devices to measure light speed in different directions. The conversation highlights the limitations of current measurement techniques and the fundamental principles of relativity, concluding that no device can definitively measure light speed variations without contradicting established physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's theory of relativity
  • Familiarity with the Michelson-Morley experiment
  • Knowledge of time dilation and synchronization of clocks
  • Basic principles of light speed in vacuum
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Michelson-Morley experiment and its significance in physics
  • Study Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies"
  • Explore the concept of the one-way speed of light and its implications
  • Investigate modern experiments measuring time dilation with atomic clocks
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of relativity, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of light speed and spacetime measurements.

  • #31
seb7 said:
I'm trying to measure the aether frame. I can see flaws in every experiment I've read that supposed to disprove the existence of an aether frame.

What exactly is your definition of "the aether frame"? People use this term to refer to different things.
 
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  • #32
Hi PeterDonis, aether frame seems to be the old saying for spacetime.

DaleSpam, "doesn't fit with your agenda.". Yes, much of my thoughts about space/time is that without material or energy there is still time and distance, part of a background aether as such.

After reading in detail about the experiments performed which sprung the ideas and the formulas for special relativity, it only strengthened my ideas, as there's a big glaring gap between results of various experiments and conclusions that were made. What bothers me further is how quickly a whole range of formulas were quickly stacked up on top of one assertion that Einstein made.

Thanks for the link, hopefully might find something in there that will fill the gap.
 
  • #33
seb7 said:
Hi PeterDonis, aether frame seems to be the old saying for spacetime.

Not really. At least, not as you appear to be using the term, because spacetime is an integral part of SR but you appear to be questioning the validity of SR. So either you must mean something different by "aether frame" than just "spacetime", or you don't really understand your own position. In fact, if I go back and substitute "spacetime" for "aether frame" in your posts, many of them don't even make sense; for example, you talk about experiments that are claimed to "disprove the existence of an aether frame", but certainly nobody is claiming that those experiments disprove the existence of spacetime.
 
  • #34
seb7 said:
Yes, much of my thoughts about space/time is that without material or energy there is still time and distance, part of a background aether as such.
Time and distance, yes, but not velocity. The aether implies not only time and distance, but also a "background" velocity, which is precisely what has not ever been detected.

seb7 said:
there's a big glaring gap between results of various experiments and conclusions that were made
Nonsense. If you send me a PM with some professional reference describing this supposed gap then we can re-open the thread and discuss it. Until then you are just speculating.
 

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