I Need to resort to spherical wavefront to derive the LTs?

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The discussion centers on the derivation of the Lorentz Transformations (LTs) using the concept of spherical wavefronts. It argues that while many derivations simplify the process by focusing on one spatial dimension, this approach overlooks the necessity of considering the full four-dimensional spacetime framework. Participants emphasize that squaring the intervals is essential due to the bidirectional nature of light, which ensures that the derived equations remain valid regardless of direction. The conversation also touches on the implications of assuming linearity in transformations and the importance of maintaining Lorentz invariance across all cases. Ultimately, the consensus is that a valid derivation must account for the complete dimensionality of spacetime rather than reducing it to a two-dimensional scenario.
  • #121
Saw said:
I never said that I want to minimize the assumptions!!!! I just said that I want to have a clear idea about which are needed and which are not
That is minimizing the assumptions. If an assumption is not needed then you can discard it and use fewer assumptions.

Saw said:
Please stop questioning what the object of the OP is, It is what Ibix said in his post 108 and I confirmed in post 110 … Yet the truth is that the object is clear
If a reader must wade through 110 posts to get a statement of purpose from the OP then the object of the thread is not clear. I am not questioning your good faith, but the outcome of this thread is a mess. The title and your OP are not focused on the interval but also on the Lorentz transform. The derivation you were first focused on was a derivation of the Lorentz transform. So in your mind you may now be certain of what you want, but that doesn’t make it true “that the object is clear” to the rest of us.

Saw said:
deriving the ST interval (full stop, not LT) and, yes, of course, being clear on how (on the basis of which assumption this has been done). Is that so difficult to understand?
You can derive the spacetime interval by first deriving the Lorentz transform and second showing that the form of the interval is invariant under the Lorentz transform. That is a perfectly legitimate derivation. You have rejected this legitimate approach. So, yes, it is difficult for me to understand.
 
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  • #122
Dale said:
You can derive the spacetime interval by first deriving the Lorentz transform and second showing that the form of the interval is invariant under the Lorentz transform. That is a perfectly legitimate derivation. You have rejected this legitimate approach. So, yes, it is difficult for me to understand.
I will in the end agree that this is crazy... Come on, who said that that (first LT, later ST) is not a legitimate approach? Who has rejected that approach? I have just said that the other approach, which is also legitimate (first, ST, then LT), is the one that I am interested in, for whatever reason. This is the last time that I answer a comment about the object of the thread. If you want to discuss how to derive the *ST interval* and on which assumptions, few or many, welcome. Otherwise, I can understand that you prefer to drop out, but don't clutter the thread with more comments about the object of the thread, 'cause this makes it actually unfollowable.
 
  • #123
Saw said:
I will in the end agree that this is crazy...
Thread closed for Moderation...
 
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  • #124
Saw said:
Come on, who said that that (first LT, later ST) is not a legitimate approach? Who has rejected that approach?
You did:
Saw said:
I am not interested (in this thread) in deriving the LTs and then noticing that they "preserve a particular quadratic form in spacetime"
Anyway, your question as finally clarified is already answered. So we will leave this thread closed.
 
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