Undergrad Proof of Lorentz transformation

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The assumption that space and time are homogeneous is supported by the lack of contrary evidence and consistency with physical laws, which remain unchanged despite Earth's varying positions. Observations, such as the uniformity of spectral lines from distant astronomical objects and consistent round trip times for light, reinforce this assumption. Additionally, no plausible theories exist that begin with an inhomogeneous spacetime while still predicting the same observations. The derived results from the homogeneity assumption align well with experimental data. Overall, the homogeneity of space and time is a foundational principle in physics due to its strong empirical support.
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What are the supporting arguments for the assumption that space and time are homogeneous?

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murshiddreamengineer said:
What are the supporting arguments for the assumption that space and time are homogeneous?
It is the simplest assumption, and it is consistent with all observations in the absence of tidal gravity.
 
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murshiddreamengineer said:
What are the supporting arguments for the assumption that space and time are homogeneous?
Two things:
First there's pretty much no evidence to the contrary. The laws of physics don't change even though the earth is in a completely different place in winter and summer, the spectral lines from distant astronomical objects show that time and space works the same there as here, no matter which direction I point my laser I will find that the round trip time from laser to a fixed mirror and back is the same.....
And second, there's no plausible theory that starts with an inhomogeneous spacetime yet predicts the same observations.

(As a digression, there are implausible theories that do exactly that. The homogeneity assumption is also the assertion that these theories are implausible).
 
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murshiddreamengineer said:
What are the supporting arguments for the assumption that space and time are homogeneous?
Things derived from that assumption match observation and experiment.
 
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MOVING CLOCKS In this section, we show that clocks moving at high speeds run slowly. We construct a clock, called a light clock, using a stick of proper lenght ##L_0##, and two mirrors. The two mirrors face each other, and a pulse of light bounces back and forth betweem them. Each time the light pulse strikes one of the mirrors, say the lower mirror, the clock is said to tick. Between successive ticks the light pulse travels a distance ##2L_0## in the proper reference of frame of the clock...

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