If Special Relativity comports with reality, and since the second postulate states that any frame of reference you choose will have all the characteristics of an absolute ether rest state, then Special Relativity cannot be incompatible with Lorentz Ether Theory which merely states that such an absolute ether rest state exists. Both theories share the same first postulate which is the principle of relativity.khil_phys said:Max Born, in his book "Einstein's Theory of Relativity", keeps referring to the luminiferous ether repeatedly, as if it were real. The book was published in 1920, it had been definitively proved by 1890 that no such thing as the ether existed. Can anyone tell why does Born keep going on with it?
Bill_K said:khil_phys, Born's book is online at archive.org, and from what I can see his reference to the ether is historical and dismissive. For example on p.161 he says, "Even nowadays there are some people who regard the mechanical explanation of the electromagnetic ether as a postulate of reason. Such theories still continue to crop up, and, naturally, they become more and more abstruse since the abundance of the facts to be explained grows, and hence the difficulty of the task increases without cessation."
ghwellsjr said:If Special Relativity comports with reality, and since the second postulate states that any frame of reference you choose will have all the characteristics of an absolute ether rest state, then Special Relativity cannot be incompatible with Lorentz Ether Theory which merely states that such an absolute ether rest state exists. Both theories share the same first postulate which is the principle of relativity.
Maybe Max Born recognizes this fact and uses it to transition from the ideas of LET to the ideas of SR as a teaching aid. Do you find his development sensible?
Max Born's reflections on the non-existent ether were significant because they challenged the long-held belief in the existence of the ether as a medium through which light waves could propagate. This concept was a key part of the classical theory of electromagnetism, and Born's reflections helped pave the way for the development of the theory of relativity.
Max Born believed that the ether was a purely hypothetical concept that was not supported by any experimental evidence. He argued that the idea of a medium through which light could travel was unnecessary and that light could be understood as a wave phenomenon without the need for an ether.
Max Born's reflections on the non-existent ether sparked a significant shift in the scientific community's understanding of light and electromagnetism. His ideas challenged the previously accepted theories and played a crucial role in the development of modern physics, particularly the theory of relativity.
Yes, Max Born faced criticism from some members of the scientific community who were not ready to let go of the concept of the ether. Some argued that there must be some form of medium through which light waves could travel, while others saw the rejection of the ether as a threat to the foundations of physics.
Max Born's reflections on the non-existent ether were a crucial step in the development of modern physics. They helped pave the way for the theory of relativity and the understanding of light as a wave phenomenon. Today, the concept of the ether is no longer considered necessary to explain the behavior of light and other electromagnetic phenomena.