Measuring The Relative Velocity Of Light

[grounded]

Anyone attempting to argue the Special Theory of Relativity needs to understand the basics of how light travels, and how we perceive it.


Einstein wrote that the speed of light does not depend on the speed of the object emitting the light. To prove this, Einstein referred to De Sitter’s observation of the binary stars, which are two stars that are orbiting each other. De Sitter concluded that if the speed of light were dependant on the speed of the star, then the light emitted from the star as it is traveling towards us would eventually catch up to the light that was emitted from the same star when it was traveling away from us.

That logic is incorrect since relative to the binary stars, they are not moving and we are orbiting the binary stars. By viewing the stars as motionless, it becomes clear that while we orbit the binary stars, we are running into the light of one star as we are running away from the light from the other star. Relative to the binary stars, their light is not approaching us at different speeds; we are approaching the light at different speeds. This proves that the speed of light can be based off the speed of the star without disturbing our perceptual view of the orbits.

Maxwell stated that all types of light would have a frequency that is inversely proportionate to its wavelength. Einstein believed that an increase in frequency caused by traveling towards the light source would cause an inversely proportionate change in the wavelength. What Maxwell meant was that since all types of light travel from the source at the same speed, than while at rest relative to the source, any light with a high frequency will have a short wavelength, and any light with a low frequency will have a long wavelength since multiplying them together must equal the speed of light. He did not mean that a perceptual change in frequency caused by the observer’s speed would change the wavelength.

The wavelength of light is not a relative measurement; it is the distance that the light has to travel away from the source in order to complete one wave. That distance is not determined by the observer’s speed, it is the same for all observers traveling at any speed or direction. The frequency of light is a relative measurement; it is the number of wavelengths the observer passes in one second. This number is determined by the speed of the observation and will be different between observers traveling at different speeds relative to the source. The wavelength of light is unaffected by the observers speed, any measured change in wavelength is an error that is caused by not including the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. When calculating the wavelength, the distance that the light travels from the source in one second must be added to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second, and then divided by the measured frequency. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included, then the relative speed will never change since the total distance traveled would only include the distance the light has traveled.

In order to accurately measure the relative speed between two objects, the distance traveled by both objects in the same amount of time must be included. Interferometers and oscilloscopes only account for the distance that the light has traveled, both need to be adjusted to include the distance traveled by the observer relative to the source. An observer using an interferometer moves a mirror a specific amount of distance while counting the number of changes in the pattern of interference fringes. When used to measure wavelengths while in motion relative to the light source, the scale used to measure the distance that the mirror has moved must be adjusted to include the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. If the observer is traveling towards the source, the same amount of movement of the mirror will represent a larger distance since it now includes the distance the observer has traveled. If the observer’s distance is not included, any increase in frequency caused by the observer’s speed will appear to decrease the wavelength causing the speed to remain unchanged.

Traveling towards the source will increase the number of waves displayed on the screen of an oscilloscope. Displaying more waves in the same amount of space means the length of each wave displayed on the screen will be reduced. This does not mean that traveling towards the source will reduce the actual length of the waves. The oscilloscope shows the waves closer together because the total distance that the screen represents has been increased to include the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. Traveling towards the source causes the oscilloscope to use a smaller amount of the screen to represent the same amount of distance. If the distance is not included, any increase in frequency caused by the observer’s speed will appear to decrease the wavelength causing the speed to remain unchanged. While at rest relative to the source, a one second screen of an oscilloscope will represent 186,000 miles. If the oscilloscope is traveling 1,000 miles per second towards the source, then the screen of the oscilloscope must represent 187,000 miles.

Traveling towards the light does not change the distance that the light has to travel to complete one wave, just as traveling towards an oncoming train does not reduce the length of the boxcars. Traveling towards the train will increase the number of boxcars that are passed and it will increase the relative speed between the observer and the train, but it will not change the length of the boxcars. If the observer plotted the number of boxcars that passed in one minute on a four-inch line, and then did the same thing after increasing speed towards the train, the second experiment would have more marks on the four-inch line and they would be closer together. This does not mean the length of the boxcars have gotten shorter, it means that the four-inch line represents a greater distance while traveling towards the source than it does when not moving relative to the source.

The increase in measured frequency caused by the observer’s speed is equal to the distance the observer has traveled (in one-second) towards the source, divided by the known wavelength. When calculating the wavelength using the measured frequency, it must be divided into the sum of “the distance light has traveled away from the source in one second” plus “the distance the observer has traveled towards the source in one second”. When measuring the wavelength, the scale of the tool used to measure the length must account for the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. While in motion relative to the source, the wavelength or frequency will always be divided into a number that is greater than or less than 186,000 miles, but never equal to 186,000 miles. The frequency multiplied by the wavelength must equal the sum of “the distance that the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second” plus “the distance the light has traveled relative to the source in one second”.

The speed of light is not constant to all observers, and it is not the universal speed limit. Traveling at relativistic speeds will not alter time, lengths, or mass. The Doppler effect is not a stretching or compressing of the wavelengths; it is an increase or decrease in frequency and relative speed. The only way the speed of light can be measured constant between observers traveling at different speeds is to measure a change in the length of the wave. The only way to measure a change in wavelength caused by the observer’s speed is by not including the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included when measuring the speed of the train, then the speed of the train will never change. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included when measuring the speed of the light, then the speed of the light will never change. The Special Theory of Relativity is interesting, but incorrect.

In my opinion, Einstein created the Special Theory of Relativity because he misunderstood the following facts. Frequency and wavelength are only inversely proportionate when measured at rest relative to the source. When measuring the relative speed of light, the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source must be included with the distance that the light has traveled away from the source in the same amount of time. Light travels at about 186,000 miles per second relative to the source. Relative to the orbiting binary stars, we are circling them and are running into the light at different speeds (actually different distances), which explains why we don’t see multiple images of the same star. The wavelength, or the distance light travels away from the source in order to complete one cycle, is not a relative measurement and it cannot be altered by changing speed or direction. Traveling past a wavelength at a faster rate does not mean the light has traveled a shorter distance from the source to complete one cycle. Changing speed relative to the source can only change the number of wavelengths passed and the relative speed of light, not the distance the light has traveled relative to the source. It is not the speed of light that remains constant it’s the wavelength.

 

[quantumdude]

Anyone attempting to argue the Special Theory of Relativity needs to understand the basics of how light travels, and how we perceive it.

Anyone attempting to argue the Special Theory of Relativity does understand those things, because they are required to study classical electrodynamics in the process.

Einstein wrote that the speed of light does not depend on the speed of the object emitting the light. To prove this, Einstein referred to De Sitter’s observation of the binary stars, which are two stars that are orbiting each other.

That's not all. Einstein opened his case by referring to the observation that, if Galileo's relativity were correct, then the electrodynamics of moving bodies should result in "asymmetries which do not appear to be inherent in the phenomena". That is, Galileo and Maxwell could not both be right.

De Sitter concluded that if the speed of light were dependant on the speed of the star, then the light emitted from the star as it is traveling towards us would eventually catch up to the light that was emitted from the same star when it was traveling away from us.

With you so far.

That logic is incorrect since relative to the binary stars, they are not moving and we are orbiting the binary stars.

No, the logic is just fine. The binary stars are orbiting each other, and it is this relative motion that DeSitter had in mind. You can't simply transform that relative motion away with a change of reference frames, because the motion is accelerated.

By viewing the stars as motionless, it becomes clear that while we orbit the binary stars, we are running into the light of one star as we are running away from the light from the other star. Relative to the binary stars, their light is not approaching us at different speeds; we are approaching the light at different speeds. This proves that the speed of light can be based off the speed of the star without disturbing our perceptual view of the orbits.

No, it doesn't, because you can't fix both stars simultaneously.

Maxwell stated that all types of light would have a frequency that is inversely proportionate to its wavelength. Einstein believed that an increase in frequency caused by traveling towards the light source would cause an inversely proportionate change in the wavelength.

He didn't just "believe" it, it is a consequence of his postulates, which by the way are required to explain the apparent paradoxes in Maxwell's EM theory. One such paradox is that, if Galilean relativity were correct, EM waves would not even appear as EM waves in any frame moving relative to the source.

What Maxwell meant was that since all types of light travel from the source at the same speed, than while at rest relative to the source, any light with a high frequency will have a short wavelength, and any light with a low frequency will have a long wavelength since multiplying them together must equal the speed of light. He did not mean that a perceptual change in frequency caused by the observer’s speed would change the wavelength.

Everyone knows that Einstein's view was an extrapolation of Maxwell's.

The wavelength of light is not a relative measurement; it is the distance that the light has to travel away from the source in order to complete one wave. That distance is not determined by the observer’s speed, it is the same for all observers traveling at any speed or direction.

That is only true if you assume Galilean relativity in the first place. Since that model is now long defunct, there is no reason to assume it. SR has successfully overthrown it, on both theoretical and experimental grounds.

The next 6 paragraphs are based on the same faulty assumption, so I'm going to skip them.

In my opinion, Einstein created the Special Theory of Relativity because he misunderstood the following facts.

In my opinion, you reject relativity because you either misunderstand or are simply unaware of the following facts:

1. The speed of light has actually been measured to be independent of the speed of the source in pion decay experiments.
2. Time dilation has actually been measured in muon decay experiments.
3. Rejecting SR necessarily means rejecting Maxwell's electrodynamics, because Maxwell is only frame-independent under SR.
4. Injecting SR into quantum theory makes it much more accurate, not less so. Indeed, QED (the marriage of quantum theory and SR) is the most accurate theory ever devised by man.

You need to take some courses in physics, especially electrodynamics.

 

[geistkiesel]

Anyone attempting to argue the Special Theory of Relativity needs to understand the basics of how light travels, and how we perceive it.


Einstein wrote that the speed of light does not depend on the speed of the object emitting the light. To prove this, Einstein referred to De Sitter’s observation of the binary stars, which are two stars that are orbiting each other. De Sitter concluded that if the speed of light were dependant on the speed of the star, then the light emitted from the star as it is traveling towards us would eventually catch up to the light that was emitted from the same star when it was traveling away from us.

That logic is incorrect since relative to the binary stars, they are not moving and we are orbiting the binary stars. By viewing the stars as motionless, it becomes clear that while we orbit the binary stars, we are running into the light of one star as we are running away from the light from the other star. Relative to the binary stars, their light is not approaching us at different speeds; we are approaching the light at different speeds. This proves that the speed of light can be based off the speed of the star without disturbing our perceptual view of the orbits.

Maxwell stated that all types of light would have a frequency that is inversely proportionate to its wavelength. Einstein believed that an increase in frequency caused by traveling towards the light source would cause an inversely proportionate change in the wavelength. What Maxwell meant was that since all types of light travel from the source at the same speed, than while at rest relative to the source, any light with a high frequency will have a short wavelength, and any light with a low frequency will have a long wavelength since multiplying them together must equal the speed of light. He did not mean that a perceptual change in frequency caused by the observer’s speed would change the wavelength.

The wavelength of light is not a relative measurement; it is the distance that the light has to travel away from the source in order to complete one wave. That distance is not determined by the observer’s speed, it is the same for all observers traveling at any speed or direction. The frequency of light is a relative measurement; it is the number of wavelengths the observer passes in one second. This number is determined by the speed of the observation and will be different between observers traveling at different speeds relative to the source. The wavelength of light is unaffected by the observers speed, any measured change in wavelength is an error that is caused by not including the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. When calculating the wavelength, the distance that the light travels from the source in one second must be added to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second, and then divided by the measured frequency. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included, then the relative speed will never change since the total distance traveled would only include the distance the light has traveled.

In order to accurately measure the relative speed between two objects, the distance traveled by both objects in the same amount of time must be included. Interferometers and oscilloscopes only account for the distance that the light has traveled, both need to be adjusted to include the distance traveled by the observer relative to the source. An observer using an interferometer moves a mirror a specific amount of distance while counting the number of changes in the pattern of interference fringes. When used to measure wavelengths while in motion relative to the light source, the scale used to measure the distance that the mirror has moved must be adjusted to include the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. If the observer is traveling towards the source, the same amount of movement of the mirror will represent a larger distance since it now includes the distance the observer has traveled. If the observer’s distance is not included, any increase in frequency caused by the observer’s speed will appear to decrease the wavelength causing the speed to remain unchanged.

Traveling towards the source will increase the number of waves displayed on the screen of an oscilloscope. Displaying more waves in the same amount of space means the length of each wave displayed on the screen will be reduced. This does not mean that traveling towards the source will reduce the actual length of the waves. The oscilloscope shows the waves closer together because the total distance that the screen represents has been increased to include the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. Traveling towards the source causes the oscilloscope to use a smaller amount of the screen to represent the same amount of distance. If the distance is not included, any increase in frequency caused by the observer’s speed will appear to decrease the wavelength causing the speed to remain unchanged. While at rest relative to the source, a one second screen of an oscilloscope will represent 186,000 miles. If the oscilloscope is traveling 1,000 miles per second towards the source, then the screen of the oscilloscope must represent 187,000 miles.

Traveling towards the light does not change the distance that the light has to travel to complete one wave, just as traveling towards an oncoming train does not reduce the length of the boxcars. Traveling towards the train will increase the number of boxcars that are passed and it will increase the relative speed between the observer and the train, but it will not change the length of the boxcars. If the observer plotted the number of boxcars that passed in one minute on a four-inch line, and then did the same thing after increasing speed towards the train, the second experiment would have more marks on the four-inch line and they would be closer together. This does not mean the length of the boxcars have gotten shorter, it means that the four-inch line represents a greater distance while traveling towards the source than it does when not moving relative to the source.

The increase in measured frequency caused by the observer’s speed is equal to the distance the observer has traveled (in one-second) towards the source, divided by the known wavelength. When calculating the wavelength using the measured frequency, it must be divided into the sum of “the distance light has traveled away from the source in one second” plus “the distance the observer has traveled towards the source in one second”. When measuring the wavelength, the scale of the tool used to measure the length must account for the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. While in motion relative to the source, the wavelength or frequency will always be divided into a number that is greater than or less than 186,000 miles, but never equal to 186,000 miles. The frequency multiplied by the wavelength must equal the sum of “the distance that the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second” plus “the distance the light has traveled relative to the source in one second”.

The speed of light is not constant to all observers, and it is not the universal speed limit. Traveling at relativistic speeds will not alter time, lengths, or mass. The Doppler effect is not a stretching or compressing of the wavelengths; it is an increase or decrease in frequency and relative speed. The only way the speed of light can be measured constant between observers traveling at different speeds is to measure a change in the length of the wave. The only way to measure a change in wavelength caused by the observer’s speed is by not including the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included when measuring the speed of the train, then the speed of the train will never change. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included when measuring the speed of the light, then the speed of the light will never change. The Special Theory of Relativity is interesting, but incorrect.

In my opinion, Einstein created the Special Theory of Relativity because he misunderstood the following facts. Frequency and wavelength are only inversely proportionate when measured at rest relative to the source. When measuring the relative speed of light, the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source must be included with the distance that the light has traveled away from the source in the same amount of time. Light travels at about 186,000 miles per second relative to the source. Relative to the orbiting binary stars, we are circling them and are running into the light at different speeds (actually different distances), which explains why we don’t see multiple images of the same star. The wavelength, or the distance light travels away from the source in order to complete one cycle, is not a relative measurement and it cannot be altered by changing speed or direction. Traveling past a wavelength at a faster rate does not mean the light has traveled a shorter distance from the source to complete one cycle. Changing speed relative to the source can only change the number of wavelengths passed and the relative speed of light, not the distance the light has traveled relative to the source. It is not the speed of light that remains constant it’s the wavelength.

Can you estimate the correction to the MM experiments when the Earth velocity is added?

 

[grounded]

Geistkiesel Wrote: Can you estimate the correction to the MM experiments when the Earth velocity is added?


What type of correction are you looking for? Since there is no ether (at least none with resistance), the velocity of the Earth or the source is not important. Light travels in all directions at the same speed. The Michelson-Morley experiment was designed to show the resistance light encountered while traveling with or against the ether. Since there is no resistance, the experiment failed to detect it. The only reason a correction would be needed is to sustain the belief in the resistance, such as the Lorentz-Fitzgerald contraction. No matter how fast the Earth is traveling, any ray of light used in the experiment will travel the same speed going straight as it would if reflected 90-degrees.

 

[grounded]

TOM MATTSON


Can I pick your brain again?

Is it that you don’t believe the number of cycle on the screen of an oscilloscope will increase as you increase speed towards the source?

Or is it that you don’t believe the distance the observer has traveled has to be included when making relative measurements?

 

[russ_watters]

Is it that you don’t believe the number of cycle on the screen of an oscilloscope will increase as you increase speed towards the source?

An oscilloscope has nothing to do with the speed of light. When moving toward a source, there is a red-shift, and if its enough, you would see more cycles on the oscilloscope, but that doesn't tell you anything about C.

 

[ram2048]

your hypothesis about light and wavelengths is incorrect i think. I'm not going to go into what "I" personally believe on the matter, because i already have a lot of stuff on my plate at the moment <grin>

the frequency of the wave is not merely the wave length, although that is one way to look at it. it is how often the wave completes a cycle in a given time, say 1 second.

now suppose you're stationary looking towards a light source with your eyes open. you're taking in that light as a specific frequency meaning let's say arbitrarily 5 waves per second.

moving TOWARDS the light, you're catching them as you approach, meaning at extremely high speeds you're catching more waves per second. if you moved at a velocity equal to 1/2 lightspeed second towards the source you'd catch 1/2 as many more waves than you would if you were stationary.

of course you wouldn't KNOW you were moving towards the lightsource in an SR relativistic frame, so you would just "perceive" light as being a different wavelength/frequency in that "reality"

 

[quantumdude]

Is it that you don’t believe the number of cycle on the screen of an oscilloscope will increase as you increase speed towards the source?

Not at all. If you move towards a source, you will definitely see that the frequency of the radiation is Doppler shifted such that the frequency increases.

Or is it that you don’t believe the distance the observer has traveled has to be included when making relative measurements?

The distance traveled by the observer only has to be taken into account when we want to translate the data taken from measurements to actual coordinates of events in spacetime. This is because it takes a finite time for information to propagate from an event to an observer.

 

[grounded]

The distance traveled by the observer only has to be taken into account when...

When measuring the relative speed between two objects wouldn't the distance traveled by both objects in the same amount of time always have to be included?

An observer traveling towards a source of light will measure an increase in frequency. We call this Doppler shift, which is cause by passing the wavelengths (the full lengths) at a faster rate. We also measure a decrease in wavelength, which is said to be an effect of the relativity.

What I see is that the only reason we measure a decrease in the wavelength is because we are not including the distance the observer has traveled.

If the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source is included, then the wavelength will not change and the speed of light will not be constant. The only reason we measure the speed of light to be constant is because we measure a change in the wavelength.

Run some real or theoretical experiments with the formulas below and see what you find.

Change in frequency:
The amount of change in the measured frequency caused by the observer’s speed relative to the source is equal to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”), divided by the known wavelength.


Observer’s speed:
The speed of the observer (relative to the source) equals the measured frequency multiplied by the known wavelength, minus the speed of light.

Measured frequency:
The measured frequency equals the speed of light added to the speed of the observer relative to the source (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”), divided by the known wavelength.


True wavelength:
The wavelength (relative to everyone) equals the speed of the observer relative to the source (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”) added to the speed of light, divided by the measured frequency.

 

[quantumdude]

When measuring the relative speed between two objects wouldn't the distance traveled by both objects in the same amount of time always have to be included?

I was taking the observer's speed to be an independent variable. If you determine the speed by determining the distance traveled and the time elapsed, then yes you need to know the distance.

An observer traveling towards a source of light will measure an increase in frequency. We call this Doppler shift, which is cause by passing the wavelengths (the full lengths) at a faster rate. We also measure a decrease in wavelength, which is said to be an effect of the relativity.

OK

What I see is that the only reason we measure a decrease in the wavelength is because we are not including the distance the observer has traveled.

But from the observer's point of view (the one who is measuring the wavelength), he hasn't moved at all. It's the source that is moving towards him.

If the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source is included, then the wavelength will not change and the speed of light will not be constant. The only reason we measure the speed of light to be constant is because we measure a change in the wavelength.

Run some real or theoretical experiments with the formulas below and see what you find.

But the speed of light will be constant. It has been measured to be independent of the motion of the source in measurements from the decay of fast particles.

Change in frequency:
The amount of change in the measured frequency caused by the observer’s speed relative to the source is equal to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”), divided by the known wavelength.

This is nonsense. A change in frequency cannot be equal to the change in the observer's distance. The two quantities don't even have the same units.

Observer’s speed:
The speed of the observer (relative to the source) equals the measured frequency multiplied by the known wavelength, minus the speed of light.

This is also nonsense. The frequency times the wavelength is the speed of light. Your formula says that, no matter what, the speed of the observer relative to the source is zero.

Measured frequency:
The measured frequency equals the speed of light added to the speed of the observer relative to the source (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”), divided by the known wavelength.

Which "known wavelength" is that? The one measured by the observer, or the one measured by someone at rest relative to the source?

True wavelength:
The wavelength (relative to everyone) equals the speed of the observer relative to the source (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”) added to the speed of light, divided by the measured frequency.

There is no "true wavelength, relative to everyone".

 

[grounded]

TOM MATTSON wrote:

But from the observer's point of view (the one who is measuring the wavelength), he hasn't moved at all. It's the source that is moving towards him.

Then you must include the distance the source has moved towards the observer, it doesn't matter.

But the speed of light will be constant. It has been measured to be independent of the motion of the source in measurements from the decay of fast particles.

But did they include the distance that our measuring equipment has traveled relative to the source of the light? Or put another way, did they include the distance the source traveled relative to the test equipment?

This is nonsense. A change in frequency cannot be equal to the change in the observer's distance. The two quantities don't even have the same units.

The amount of change in the measured frequency caused by the observer’s speed relative to the source is equal to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”), divided by the known wavelength.

The answer is the number of additional cycle measured per second, or the reduction.

This is also nonsense. The frequency times the wavelength is the speed of light. Your formula says that, no matter what, the speed of the observer relative to the source is zero.

The speed of the observer (relative to the source) equals the measured frequency (measured by the observer) multiplied by the known wavelength, minus the speed of light.


The known wavelength is the wavelength measured while at rest compared to the source.

There is no "true wavelength, relative to everyone".

The only way to measure a changing wavelength is by not including the distance the observer has traveled towards the source, or the distance the source has traveled towards the observer.

 

[quantumdude]

Then you must include the distance the source has moved towards the observer, it doesn't matter.

Even so, there is still a measurable change in wavelength.

But did they include the distance that our measuring equipment has traveled relative to the source of the light? Or put another way, did they include the distance the source traveled relative to the test equipment?

Yes.

The amount of change in the measured frequency caused by the observer’s speed relative to the source is equal to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second (“positive when traveling towards the source” “negative when traveling away from the source”), divided by the known wavelength.

The answer is the number of additional cycle measured per second, or the reduction.

Right, I hit "send" before going back to complete that sentence. So, it's a distance divided by a distance, which sets a frequency equal to a quantity with no units at all. Unless, of course, you mean to say that it is not the distance divided by a wavelength, but a speed divided by a wavelength.

Is that it?

The speed of the observer (relative to the source) equals the measured frequency (measured by the observer) multiplied by the known wavelength, minus the speed of light.

The known wavelength is the wavelength measured while at rest compared to the source.

But why should we combine those quantities to form a speed? A main point of SR is that we cannot take it for granted that we can combine quantities taken from different inertial frames.

The only way to measure a changing wavelength is by not including the distance the observer has traveled towards the source, or the distance the source has traveled towards the observer.

No, you measure a changing wavelength simply by measuring the wavelength of light when you are in different states of motion relative to the source. Taking the motion of the source relative to the observer into account doesn't give you the "real" wavelength in your frame, it gives you the wavelength in the rest frame of the source.

 

[quantumdude]

I'm guessing that the following idea of yours is what is most preventing you from accepting SR.

The only way to measure a changing wavelength is by not including the distance the observer has traveled towards the source, or the distance the source has traveled towards the observer.

And I responded thusly:

No, you measure a changing wavelength simply by measuring the wavelength of light when you are in different states of motion relative to the source. Taking the motion of the source relative to the observer into account doesn't give you the "real" wavelength in your frame, it gives you the wavelength in the rest frame of the source.

To that I will add that you could make your claim about any measurable quantitiy that varies from frame to frame. You could say that the only way that time dilates is because we don't include the relative motion between muons and our laboratory. Thus, they don't really take longer to decay, and we can prove that if we just calculate back to what the muon lifetime is in its own frame.

Well no kidding!

Yes, you can always calculate proper times, lengths, wavelengths and frequencies by transforming back to the rest frame of the object under study, be it a muon, a meter stick, or a light source. But just because we can go back and calculate the values of those quantities, it does not imply that those values are somehow more "real" than the ones we measure.

You seem to be trying to get me to consider a universe in which SR is false. There's no need: I've already done it (I had to, as part of my studies). What you don't understand here is that you need to consider such a universe.

A universe in which Maxwell's equations look different in every frame.

A universe in which the momentum of a photon (which is inversely proportional to its wavelength) is independent of the state of motion of particles with which it collides.

A universe in which measurements of microscopic systems agree with relativistic qunantum theories vastly better than they do with nonrelativistic qunantum theories.

The longer you look at a "Universe without SR", the more you'll see that it is an illusion, and it is most definitely not the universe we live in. Do yourself a favor: Study some physics. You'll be the better for it.

 

[grounded]

I'm guessing that the following idea of yours is what is most preventing you from accepting SR.

The reason I believe that is because of the following:

If the width of the screen of an oscilloscope represents a one-second-time period, then it will also represent 186,000 miles since that is the distance light travels in ones second. Right?

The number of cycles displayed on the screen is the number of cycles that has passed by in one second. If you take 186,000 miles and divide it by the number of cycles on the screen, it will equal the length of each cycle. Right?

If the width of the screen is six inches long, then six inches represents 186,000 miles, and 3 inches would represent 93,000 miles. Doing this we can apply a scale to the screen and measure the length of each cycle. Right? Although it would be difficult.

If the oscilloscope increases speed towards the source, the number of cycles displayed on the screen (relative frequency) will increase, and the length of each wave (relative wavelength) will decrease. And this is why you believe the wavelength has changed right?

The frequency increases because traveling towards the source has increased the total relative distance traveled in one second. The new frequency must be divided into the sum of 186,000 miles plus the distance the oscilloscope has traveled. Right? Relative speed divided by relative frequency equals relative wavelength, right?

The cycles appear closer together on the screen because the screen represents a greater area(the relative speed, or distance per second). It’s only by not adjusting the scale of the screen to represent the total distance traveled by the light and the observer that a change in wavelength can occur. If we do adjust the scale, the wavelength never changes. Do you think the scale of an oscilloscope needs to be adjusted when measuring light while in motion relative to the source?

 

[grounded]

Tom

If you used an oscilloscope to measure a pulse emitted from the front of each boxcar as a train passes by you, the number of pulses on the screen will increase if the train speeds up or if you increase speed towards the train. The individual pulses will also be closer together on the screen, this does not mean the length of the boxcars has changed; it means the distance that the screen represents has been increased.

If you do not adjust the scale of the screen, then the relative speed of the train will never change.

 

[russ_watters]

The individual pulses will also be closer together on the screen, this does not mean the length of the boxcars has changed; it means the distance that the screen represents has been increased.

What, you've never heard of length contraction? Well, if you don't buy time dilation, I doubt you'll buy length contraction either, but...

...an observer in a moving boxcar will indeed measure the boxcar to be a different length than an observer on the ground.

Like Tom said, what you are doing is assigning a "proper" length in order to calculate speed. Sorry, but you can't do that. For the person in the boxcar, time and distance are what he measures them to be and for the person on the ground, time and distance are what he measures them to be. And they will not necessarily agree on the time and distance involved with the same event.

I must emphasize again that though it may seem counterintuitive to you, these phenomena have actually been observed to occur. They are reality.

 

[quantumdude]

The reason I believe that is because of the following:

The reason you believe that is because you don't know anything about physics.


Take a few courses, and try to learn something. Either that, or open up to learning something about real physics here at Physics Forums, whether or not it defies your intuition.

If not, then you're just going to be another crackpot around here.

 

[geistkiesel]

The rejection of SR

The reason you believe that is because you don't know anything about physics.


Take a few courses, and try to learn something. Either that, or open up to learning something about real physics here at Physics Forums, whether or not it defies your intuition.

If not, then you're just going to be another crackpot around here.

You use the lack of formally gathered knowledge "about the real physics" as a priest uses his call to faith. You are only superior in your own perception, a legend in your own mind only. I reject SR for philosophic reasons, primarily becasuse SR and SR spokes agents such as yourself, talk silly, deferentially,with the superiority of mathematical supremeacy. I reject SR and refuse to study the essence of the insanity for the same reason I don't put my finger in fires tio find out how hot it may be. Do you understand? All of your references to experimental proof of SR are understoof by myself as mantras of idiots.

Do you understand? I consider you a scientific clown. I want not what you have to offer.

I do not need your pemission to scrutinize any offered theory, nor do I need you permission, or support, to offer my own ideas, even though you and I both know, my ideas are guaranteed to remain unambiguosly contradictory to your ideas.

I reject your totality of expression, your scientific methods, your authoritative persona, I reject your smug educator's personality, I reject your mentorial status as having any useful significant additions to the exchange of ideas and the progress of science, I reject your every manifest breath, I reject your efforts to maintain the status quo in a state of blind obedient sleep-walking darkness.

I reject your contnued insistance that I have something owed to you.

Your reference to the "proof" that mass moving at .99c measured a value of c for the velocity difference of itself and light was ignored, unread.

You have a huge theoretical abyss to consider:

1. Either pull up the drawbridge and defend the castle, or [*]*demonstrate how moving toward oncoming photons shortens the wave length of the light, by demonstrating that the increase in frequency is other than your eye moving faster over the oncoming wave lengths and,
   [*] justification of suppressing the addition of the distance traveled by an observer to the wave length of the oncoming photons in the analysis of data from experiments measuring the constancy of the speed of light, and [*] direct experimental results disproving the *Grounded claim in 2.) and 3.) above.

* See Grounded's Post #1 in this thread.

 

[Hurkyl]

Pot to kettle

What about your own faith, Geistkiesel? It must be pretty strong for you to continue to have your unwavering belief in the incorrectness of Special Relativity.

I mean, if I had a strong conviction against learning something, I would resign myself to the fact that I don't know that thing.

But here you are, steadfastly refusing to learn Special Relativity, refusing to hear evidence confirming it, and you are able to stick to your conviction that it cannot possibly be anywhere close to valid!


Wait, I'm wrong, you're not so much sticking to your convictions; you never face any scrutiny because you denounce anyone who would scrutinize you as being in a "state of blind obedient sleep-walking darkness".

You still have your blind faith, but you don't have the confidence in your faith, so you need to belittle those who might erode your faith in order to maintain it.


You liken learning SR to putting a finger in a fire. Why? Putting your finger in a fire can cause physical pain and injury; are you suggesting that you will suffer mental pain and injury if you tried to learn SR? Are you really that afraid you might be wrong?

 

[quantumdude]

All of your references to experimental proof of SR are understoof by myself as mantras of idiots.

That's just it: Nothing about SR is "understood by yourself".

The experimental and theoretical arguments in support of SR are overwhelming, and furthermore they are available for anyone to examine. How you can say, on the one hand, that I lack the formal knowledge of physics, and then on the other hand that you refuse even to look at SR seriously, is hypocritical beyond belief.

You're just another idiot with an internet connection, a bad attitude, and too much time on his hands.

 

[geistkiesel]

That's just it: Nothing about SR is "understood by yourself".

The experimental and theoretical arguments in support of SR are overwhelming, and furthermore they are available for anyone to examine. How you can say, on the one hand, that I lack the formal knowledge of physics, and then on the other hand that you refuse even to look at SR seriously, is hypocritical beyond belief.

You're just another idiot with an internet connection, a bad attitude, and too much time on his hands.

You misrepresent myself with the claim that I refuse to look at SR seriously. Look at my posts and repeat the representations for all those visitng this thread that I do not take SR seriously? Why do I do this? For the sheer pleasure of poking at you and listening to your squealing?

You don't empress me as enjoying the minimum human qualities necessary for the title of scientist: consciousness of a mental state of objectivity, understanding, curiosity, patience, willingness to listen, to learn.

The most interesting, unique and creative post on this forum, in my humble and brief apearances and experience, is Grounded's essay regarding the measurement of light speed, wave length and frequency, among other subjects. Your response was basically that it is contrary to SR, ergo its wrong. Your inability to discuss the essay on its own merits exposes your weakness as a claimed scientist(s). If it ain't SR it ain't in your dictionary and therefor by the dictates of SR you must, "cut it out and kill it" to quote Gen. Colin Powell in the midst of Desert Storm.

Demonstrate your expertise as a scientist on the issues, demonstrate your wisdom, your knowledge, your keen sense of analytic acuity. Prove it, in other words.

You have a huge theoretical abyss to consider: regarding Grounded's claims he shows us in his essay: That an observer's velocity wrt to the source of photons is complex and guided by:

1. FL - c. F is frequency, L the wavelength and c the speed of light.
2. the frequency F = (c + v)/L where v is the observer's velocity wrt the source.
3. change of frequency = (D/sec)/L where D is the distance moved per sec wrt the source and,
   
4. the wave length L = v/ F where v is the velocity of the observer wrt source.

This may be too overwhelming for you to consider in one fell swioop, so take just the simple measurement of frequency that Grounded suggests: When an observer moves against the stream of photons the wave length of the photons do not become squeezed or shortened, the frequency increase is the increase in observed rate the individual wave lengths pass through the eye as the observer moves. The wave length remains invariant to the observation, neat isn't it. The observer puts no force, or pressure on the wave of the light. The speed of light is constant, but is certainly not as SR predicts with its built in errors in scientific and physical law, the relative speed of light is frame dependent. This is where I start, and until proved otherwise, this is where I shall remain. Do you understand?

This discussion regarding frequency was discarded out of hand, without the deliberation and care it deserves, so .

1. Either pull up the drawbridge and defend the castle, or
2. *demonstrate how moving toward oncoming photons shortens the wave length of the light, by demonstrating that the increase in frequency is other than your eye moving faster over the oncoming wave lengths and,
3. justification of suppressing the addition of the distance traveled by an observer to the wave length of the oncoming photons in the analysis of data from experiments measuring the constancy of the speed of light, and
4. direct experimental results disproving the *Grounded claim in 2.) and 3.) above.

So once again you have the opportunity to answer some serious questions necessitated by *Grounded's essay, the opening of this thread, in this fiorum of Theory Development, the name of the game.

 

[geistkiesel]

Alles kunst ist sumsonst wen ein Angel an das zundloch prunst.

What about your own faith, Geistkiesel? It must be pretty strong for you to continue to have your unwavering belief in the incorrectness of Special Relativity.

I mean, if I had a strong conviction against learning something, I would resign myself to the fact that I don't know that thing.

Well Hurkyl ol' pal, that then marks one of the differences between yourself and myself, doesn't it?.

But here you are, steadfastly refusing to learn Special Relativity, refusing to hear evidence confirming it, and you are able to stick to your conviction that it cannot possibly be anywhere close to valid!

You think I am totally ignorant of SR? Hurkyl you forget the number of posts we have exchanged? You think nothing rubs off on to me? The average PhD specializing in SR takes how long Hurkyl? Should dissidents go through the same jumping of hoops just be qualified to discuss SR? I have said on at least a dozen occasions that I am fully convinced that SR predicts what you say it predicts. I do not say this out of hand. I believe you when you make a claim that you are being honest in what you clainm SR is and what it does.

Wait, I'm wrong, you're not so much sticking to your convictions; you never face any scrutiny because you denounce anyone who would scrutinize you as being in a "state of blind obedient sleep-walking darkness".

You misuse the quote. Tis you methodology, your demontrated impatience with any who disagree, your intention to gain converts or to shut up detractors is your manifest mission. Your manifest state of maintaning SR at any cost, even the cost of your own lost souls is distressing, but then I gave up saving the world long ago, in 1998, if I remember. . See hurkyl, there you go again. You know I don't denounce any who scrutinize me a "obedient sleep-walkers". I do apply the anlogy when I see it applicable. By the way have you read Kessler's book "The Sleepwalkers"? An historical account of Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler and Galileo?

You still have your blind faith, but you don't have the confidence in your faith, so you need to belittle those who might erode your faith in order to maintain it.

What is this pot and kettle time? It is not faith that I base my rejection of SR. It uis what I have learned of it, a large exy=tent nof which is yoru doing. I belittel a bit too much, KI suppose, but it certainly is not a trait that escapes your mouth and the likes of my our colleague Tom Mattson is it? You aren't telling us that you were innocent of bellitlement practices until I came upon th escene and t6aught you how to do it are you?
Erode my faith, oh ye of so little of that, who dost first point his accusing finger. read on matey!

You liken learning SR to putting a finger in a fire. Why? Putting your finger in a fire can cause physical pain and injury; are you suggesting that you will suffer mental pain and injury if you tried to learn SR? Are you really that afraid you might be wrong?

No I said putting my finger in a fire would cause pain and injury to my finger. It was a metaphor, and exagerated metaphor at that. Are you seriously questioning my meaning and intent in using that phraseology in that line?

You see hurkyl, to my own satisfaction I have limited my time and energy as I see fit. It is my choice made with eyes wide open. You yourself have in your infinite patience and teaching expertise taught me sufficiently to know, to my own satiisfaction, that I am not going to study something with the intrinsic silliness built in that you yourself have shown me is the essential crucial thread of SR. And for this I will remain eternally grateful to you for that effort.
Is this plain enough for you to understand?

"The enemies of truth. Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies." :rofl:

There wasn't a lot (any) of science in your post. Are you getting tired hurkyl?

 

[grounded]

What, you've never heard of length contraction? Well, if you don't buy time dilation, I doubt you'll buy length contraction either, but...

...an observer in a moving boxcar will indeed measure the boxcar to be a different length than an observer on the ground.

Like Tom said, what you are doing is assigning a "proper" length in order to calculate speed. Sorry, but you can't do that. For the person in the boxcar, time and distance are what he measures them to be and for the person on the ground, time and distance are what he measures them to be. And they will not necessarily agree on the time and distance involved with the same event.

I must emphasize again that though it may seem counterintuitive to you, these phenomena have actually been observed to occur. They are reality.

If the observer increases speed towards the train until the number of pulses on the screen has doubled, what does that tell you about the wavelength? The train was originally traveling towards you at 55 MPH. The pulses doubled because you are now driving 55 MPH towards the train. The distance between the pulses on the screen has been cut in half because the width of the screen now represents twice the distance. It now represents the distance traveled by the train and the observer. Right? Tell me you don't think that traveling 55 MPH will cut the length of the boxcars in half? If you don’t then you must agree that the scale of the screen must represent distance traveled by the train and the observer. By including the observer’s distance, we can calculate the actual length of the boxcar at any speed, relative to anyone.

Using the same oscilloscope to measure light, you will not read a change in wavelength if you include the distance the observer has traveled, just as with the train. Are you saying that an oscilloscope must include the distance traveled by the observer with all of our measurements, except light? You do realize that if the distance traveled by the observer is not included, then ANYTHING you measure will NEVER show a change in relative speed? If we include the distance when measuring light, the need for SR disappears since there is no change in the wavelength. The only way to measure a change in wavelength caused by the observer’s speed, is to ignore the distance the observer has traveled.

The wavelength is the distance light has to travel away from the source in order to complete one cycle. That length is the same whether you are there, or not. If you increase speed towards the light, you will pass over those lengths at a faster rate. They do not change in length as you increase speed, only the amount of time spent over each wave changes.

If you believe the observers speed does change the wavelength, then why can we only measure it when we ignore the distance the observer has traveled?

 

[Alkatran]

The wavelength of light is not a relative measurement; it is the distance that the light has to travel away from the source in order to complete one wave. That distance is not determined by the observer’s speed, it is the same for all observers traveling at any speed or direction. The frequency of light is a relative measurement; it is the number of wavelengths the observer passes in one second. This number is determined by the speed of the observation and will be different between observers traveling at different speeds relative to the source. The wavelength of light is unaffected by the observers speed, any measured change in wavelength is an error that is caused by not including the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source. When calculating the wavelength, the distance that the light travels from the source in one second must be added to the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source in one second, and then divided by the measured frequency. If the distance the observer has traveled is not included, then the relative speed will never change since the total distance traveled would only include the distance the light has traveled.

Isn't the wavelength affect by the contraction of distances in the inverse way frequency is affected by time dilation? So that the wavelength of light is affected by the observer's speed?

 

[grounded]

The reason you believe that is because you don't know anything about physics.


Take a few courses, and try to learn something. Either that, or open up to learning something about real physics here at Physics Forums, whether or not it defies your intuition.

If not, then you're just going to be another crackpot around here.

I believe the formula below is correct, do you?

(RELATIVE SPEED) / (RELATIVE FREQUENCY) = (RELATIVE WAVELENGTH)

Keep in mind that the RELATIVE SPEED represents the total distance traveled by both the light (or the train), and the observer in one second.

This is what SR says:

(ONLY THE SPEED OF LIGHT) / (RELATIVE FREQUENCY) = (RELATIVE WAVELENGTH)

Don't you see the error in the above formula? The SR theory only explains why when using the above formula, the speed of light never changes. Isn't it obvious? How can the total distance traveled in one second ever change if the only distance included in your measurement is the distance light has traveled?

No matter how many wavelengths pass by you, you always divide them into the same distance. Do you find any logic in that?

 

[grounded]

Isn't the wavelength affect by the contraction of distances in the inverse way frequency is affected by time dilation? So that the wavelength of light is affected by the observer's speed?

There is no time dilations or contractions. The only reason people believe that is to explain why we measure a change in wavelength. Measuring this change is what keeps the relative speed constant. But the only reason we measure a change in wavelength is because the distance the observer has traveled relative to the source is never included.

We measure an increase in frequency because the total relative distance traveled in one second has increased, which simply means we are driving farther, therefore we are running into more wavelengths in the same amount of time. To calculate the wavelength, the new frequency must be divided into the total distance traveled by the light and the observer. Currently we only include the distance that the light has traveled. It is by not including the distance the observer has traveled that causes our measurements of the wavelength to change.

My previous post shows how when using a formula containing a RELATIVE wavelength, and a RELATIVE frequency, the RELATIVE speed, which is the total distance traveled by the light and the observer in one second, must also be used and not just the distance traveled by the light.

Maxwell only stated that the frequency is inversely proportionate to the wavelength because all types of light travel from the source at the same speed, which means the only difference between different types of light is their frequency and wavelength. Since frequency multiplied by the wavelength equals the speed, and all types of light travel from the source at the same speed, any light with a high frequency will have a short wavelength, and any light with a low frequency will have a long wavelength. He was not talking about relative measurements, he was merely describing the difference between different light sources.

Do you agree?

 

[ram1024]

yep, i agree for the most part. except i would make calculations not towards the source, but towards the absolute space location the light was emitted at (not necessary if the source is stationary of course...)

 

[Hurkyl]

Well Hurkyl ol' pal, that then marks one of the differences between yourself and myself, doesn't it?.

And the odd thing is we both think we have the better end of the deal.

You misuse the quote. Tis you methodology, your demontrated impatience with any who disagree, your intention to gain converts or to shut up detractors is your manifest mission. Your manifest state of maintaning SR at any cost, even the cost of your own lost souls is distressing, but then I gave up saving the world long ago, in 1998, if I remember.

You aren't telling us that you were innocent of bellitlement practices until I came upon th escene and t6aught you how to do it are you?

When facing those who make unjustified generalizations, I'm fond of returning the favor. My "impatience" is not the disagreement... you can check the history of my posts, I'm confident you'll find that I never belittle someone merely because of a disagreement or lack of understanding!

There wasn't a lot (any) of science in your post. Are you getting tired hurkyl?

Nor in yours; I find it interesting, from time to time, to debate the philosophy held by those I consider crackpots. Partly because I find it amusing, partly because I'm seriously curious why people think they way they do.

 

[Alkatran]

I thought light moved relative to the observer, and that this had been proven time and time again? So that the observer can't have a speed relative to light other than c?

 

[quantumdude]

You misrepresent myself with the claim that I refuse to look at SR seriously. Look at my posts and repeat the representations for all those visitng this thread that I do not take SR seriously?

I didn't misrepresent you, I simply paraphrased you. You specifically said that you refuse to learn SR, and your posts are consistent with that.

Why do I do this? For the sheer pleasure of poking at you and listening to your squealing?

I'm sure only you and your psychiatrist knows why you do this or anything else.

You don't empress me as enjoying the minimum human qualities necessary for the title of scientist: consciousness of a mental state of objectivity, understanding, curiosity, patience, willingness to listen, to learn.

I don't care if I impress you.

The most interesting, unique and creative post on this forum, in my humble and brief apearances and experience, is Grounded's essay regarding the measurement of light speed, wave length and frequency, among other subjects.

It was creative, I'll give you that. That doesn't make it true, though.

Your response was basically that it is contrary to SR, ergo its wrong.

It is you who is misrepresenting me. Go back and read what I wrote again. I refer not only to SR, but also to the experiments that confirm SR and simultaneously falsfiy grouded's ideas.

Your inability to discuss the essay on its own merits exposes your weakness as a claimed scientist(s).

I did discuss it on its own merits. Grounded's prediction is that the speed of light is not the same in every reference frame. I cited experimental evidence to the contrary. If my discussion of the essay "on its own merits" was brief, it's because that's all the discussion it merited.

Demonstrate your expertise as a scientist on the issues, demonstrate your wisdom, your knowledge, your keen sense of analytic acuity. Prove it, in other words.

I have demonstrated it many times, in many threads. But what difference would it make to you if I did it again? You don't listen to me anyway. You ask me to "prove it", but then when I do you just make some idiotic comment before dismissing it.

You have a huge theoretical abyss to consider:

No, I don't. You do, and I have already detailed it. The ironic thing is that the shortcoming that both you and grounded have is the very shortcoming he accused "us" of in his opening post:

Neither one of you understands how light propagates.

That's why I keep saying, "study some electrodynamics". If SR is wrong, then the propagation of light should only be possible in the rest frame of the source. Observers in any other frame will not detect the light as light. This is the very problem that led Einstein to come up with SR. The fact that you have no appreciation for the problem, and are content to run roughshod right over it, is why you are a crackpot.

This may be too overwhelming for you to consider in one fell swioop, so take just the simple measurement of frequency that Grounded suggests:

I don't have to consider it all at once, because I have considered it all before already. I've studied classical mechanics, with Galilean relativity and with SR, in great detail. I already know that physics without SR doesn't work. You, on the other hand, have a lot of learning to do before you are qualified to make any judgment on the subject. The question is, "will you?"

 

[quantumdude]

Neither one of you understands how light propagates.

And this is what I mean by that:

In any course in classical EM, we obtain the following equation that describes the propagaition of light:

From Maxwell's Equations to the EM Wave Equation:

Using the boldface ∂ for the "del" operator, Maxwell's equations in vacuo are:

∂xE+(1/c)∂E/∂t...(1)
∂xB-(1/c)∂E/∂t...(2)
∂^.E=0...(3)
∂^.B=0...(4)

Making use of the vector identity:

∂x∂xA=∂(∂^.A)-∂²A,

We can take the curl of equation (1) to obtain:

∂x∂xE+(1/c)(∂/∂t)∂xB=0
∂(∂^.E)-∂²E+(1/c)(∂/∂t)∂xB=0

The part in blue vanishes by virtue of equation (3), and the part in red can be rewritten as -(1/c)∂E/∂t, by virtue of equation (2).

This gives us:

∂²E-(1/c²)∂²E/∂t²=0,

which is a wave equation. Taking the curl of equation (2) and following a similar path will show you that B satisfies the exact same wave equation.

We know this is a wave equation because, when we solve it, we get...

Solutions of the EM Wave Equation:

The components of the plane wave solutions of the wave equation are of the form:

A_i(x,t)=A_i0sin(k^.x-wt+f)

where w/|k|=c. Since the solutions have constant phase, we can derive the speed of the waves to be c.

Now, if we assume that Galilean relativity is right, and all those effects predicted by SR don't really exist (despite the fact that they've been confirmed experimentally many, many times), we get:

Why Galileo and Maxwell Can't Both Be Right:

If electrodynamics is to be reformulated so that it is Galilean invariant, then the resulting equations will not be Maxwell's equations.

Here's what the reference from Jackson has to say about it. First, assume Galilean relativity. For a moving frame S' and a stationary frame S, we have:

x'=x-vt
t'=t

Let the wave equation hold in frame S. What does it look like in S'? We can derive that as follows:

∂/∂x=(∂x'/∂x)∂/∂x'=∂/∂x'
∂/∂y=(∂y'/∂y)∂/∂y'=∂/∂y'
∂/∂z=(∂z'/∂z)∂/∂z'=∂/∂z'

∂/∂t=(∂x'/∂/t)(∂/∂x')+(∂y'/∂t)(∂/∂y')+(∂z'/∂t)(∂/∂z')+(∂t'/∂t)(∂/∂t')
∂/∂t=v^.∂'-(1/c)∂/∂t'

Squaring each operator and writing the equation in the coordinates of S' yields:

(∂'²-(1/c²)(∂²/∂t'²-(2/c²)v^.∂'(∂/∂t')-(1/c²)(v^.∂)²)A_i=0

where A_i is any component of either the E or B field.

Notice that the above equation is not a wave equation. That means that, if Galilean relativity is correct, then radio waves emitted from towers should become non-waves when you are driving in your car.

If Galilean relativity is correct, then you should not be able to listen to the radio in your car.

Why the Correctness of Maxwell Implies the Correctness of Einstein:

The Lorentz transformation, on the other hand, does preserve the form of the EM wave equation.

SR predicts the everyday observation that EM waves are EM waves in every frame. Galilean relativity, on the other hand, fails miserably here.

And to Wrap Up:

This is what none of the preachers of the Anti Relativity Religion understand. Einstein did not pull length contraction and time dilation out of thin air. They are logically derived consequences of the requirement that the EM wave equation and the speed of light be the same in every frame. The original paper was not even called, "Intro to Special Relativity", it was called, "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies".

Like it or not folks, relativity is correct. If any of you wants to convince thinking persons otherwise, then you will have to argue on these terms, because these are the terms in which relativity was formulated.

Now, who can argue with that post on its merits?

 

[grounded]

I will admit that I have no idea what any of that means. I will tell you that I came here specifically to talk to professionals in the field. I wanted to get your opinions on some simple concepts. The main question I have (as you know) is why we have to include the distance the observer has traveled when we measure everything but light. Doesn’t that seem odd? Especially since if we measure light like we measure everything else, the wavelength does not change.

I hate to keep repeating myself and I don’t want you to think that I will ask until you agree. But to tell me that other people have measure a change in wavelength doesn’t answer my question since they do not include the observer’s distance traveled.

What I want to do is ask what YOU think about the observer’s distance and show the repercussions of each choice. Both can be measure and calculated.

The math you have learned will show you what an oscilloscope will measure when the distance the observer has traveled is not included. You will always be right as long as the one-second screen of the oscilloscope represents 186,000 miles.

The math I use includes the distance the observer has traveled. The one-second screen of my oscilloscope represents 186,000 miles plus the distance the observer has traveled (or minus if traveling away from source). The oscilloscope will show a change in frequency and speed, but not wavelength.

Who is right since both can be measured and calculated? You have to admit that SR requires you to jump through a lot of hoops to explain why the wavelength changes. All I ask is that we account for the relative motion of the observer.

If you are not offended, I sure would like your response to my last two posts?

 

[Alkatran]

You have to admit that SR requires you to jump through a lot of hoops to explain why the wavelength changes.

Just because something is more complicated than a method that will work (in this SPECIFIC situation) doesn't mean it is wrong. Relativity applies to more situations, so it is considered correct. At least that's my understanding.

 

[russ_watters]

If you are not offended, I sure would like your response to my last two posts?

Unfortunately, your thread has kinda been hijacked. Let's try to get it back on track.

If the observer increases speed towards the train until the number of pulses on the screen has doubled, what does that tell you about the wavelength? The train was originally traveling towards you at 55 MPH. The pulses doubled because you are now driving 55 MPH towards the train. The distance between the pulses on the screen has been cut in half because the width of the screen now represents twice the distance. It now represents the distance traveled by the train and the observer. Right? Tell me you don't think that traveling 55 MPH will cut the length of the boxcars in half?

Good so far. No, I'm not suggesting that the length of the boxcars is cut in half. What you have described is Galilean Relativity and it works reasonably well if you don't require too much accuracy.

But here's the thing: if you mount atomic clocks on your train and next to the observer, you'll find discrepancies between the clock rates. You'll also find that you always measure the same speed of light, no matter how you measure it (along the side of the tracks, on the train, from the tracks to train). But Galilean Relativity says that if the train is moving at you at 55mph, then the speed of light should be 55mph higher than normal on a signal sent from the train to the observer next to it (in front of it).

Its the ping pong ball analogy: a bouncing ping pong ball on a train has a different velocity according to a person on the train (maybe its bouncing straight up and down) than it does to a person next to it (bouncing up and down and moving forward at 55mph). Light particles are just really fast moving ping pong balls. Right...?

...Well that's what scientists used to think before they started measuring the speed of light to a precision at which you'd notice its variability. They found that its always the same. So that's a problem for Galilean Relativity.

As it turns out, this issue can be resolved by assuming a constant speed of light (its ok to assume it because its been measured) and a variable rate of the passage of time. But wait - since distance=speed times time, if the observers agree on the speed light traveled at but not the time, they will also not agree on the distance it traveled. Thats right, by implication, two observers will not necessarily agree on the distance between two objects/events - and that includes the length of the train itself.

These implications are hard to fathom when looking at a train. And for a human looking at a slow-moving train, they are irrelevant. You can't notice the difference. But for a faster moving object with an accurate clock, these effects become huge. GPS satellites contain clocks that have their rate adjusted according to Einstein's Relativity before launch so they remain in sync once in orbit. Lemme say that again: a GPS clock, capable of keeping time to within a couple of nanoseconds per day, does not keep good time when sitting on the ground. These effects are real and accounting for them is essential to the operation of the GPS system.

 

[russ_watters]

My above post is a lot to chew on, but let me at least give you some short answers to some of your other questions.

BTW:

I will admit that I have no idea what any of that means. I will tell you that I came here specifically to talk to professionals in the field. I wanted to get your opinions on some simple concepts.

A statement like that shows you have a great attitude - you're willing to learn. Good start.

My previous post shows how when using a formula containing a RELATIVE wavelength, and a RELATIVE frequency, the RELATIVE speed, which is the total distance traveled by the light and the observer in one second, must also be used and not just the distance traveled by the light.

If you have information such as your measured wavelength and your measured speed for the source, you can indeed calculate how the wave would appear to an observer stationary with respect to the source (or to any other observer given the relative speeds involved). I think what the other guys were trying to tell you is that if you don't know anything about distance or relative motion, you won't have any idea what the source thinks its wavelegth is - and that's ok. Any two observers may measure different and equally valid, wavelengths.

If the observer increases speed towards the train until the number of pulses on the screen has doubled, what does that tell you about the wavelength? The train was originally traveling towards you at 55 MPH.

Part of the problem with this analogy is that a train is sloooow with regard to the speed of light. To get half the wavelength (in Galilean Relativity), that train has to be traveling at half the speed of light. At such speeds, time dilation and length contraction are noticeable in human time and distance scales.

To calculate the wavelength, the new frequency must be divided into the total distance traveled by the light and the observer.

The problem is (and this is true in Galilean Relativity too as seen in the ping pong ball thought experiment), two observers wil not necessarily agree on that distance.

What I want to do is ask what YOU think about the observer’s distance and show the repercussions of each choice. Both can be measure and calculated.

The math you have learned will show you what an oscilloscope will measure when the distance the observer has traveled is not included. You will always be right as long as the one-second screen of the oscilloscope represents 186,000 miles.

The math I use includes the distance the observer has traveled. The one-second screen of my oscilloscope represents 186,000 miles plus the distance the observer has traveled (or minus if traveling away from source). The oscilloscope will show a change in frequency and speed, but not wavelength.[/qutoe] Here's the problem: since distance and time are relative, (and in Galilean Relativity, distance is relative), using time from one frame and distance from another doesn't fit the definition of "speed." Both forms of relativity say the laws of the universe are the same for all observers: so speed has to be your measured distance and your measured time. Otherwise you could arbitrarily pick any distance and any time for any event and come up with any answer you like. Don't think so? - is that train moving at 55mph or 0mph? To a person on the train, the train is stationary. To a person next to it, its moving at 55mph. Who is right? Both. What if I tell you I can throw a baseball at 110mph becasue I throw it forward at 55 and the train is moving at 55? Will you accept that I throw harder than Randy Johnson? How about 1055mph due to the rotation of the earth? You won't because its an apples-to-oranges comparison of speeds and distances measured in different frames.

You have to admit that SR requires you to jump through a lot of hoops to explain why the wavelength changes. All I ask is that we account for the relative motion of the observer.

Well here's the thing about SR - its really quite elegant. SR says only two things:

-The laws of the universe are the same for any observer, regardless of inertial (non-accelerating) frame of reference.

-The speed of light is constant.

Thats it. No hoops. All of the implications follow directly from these two premises.