Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the Consistency between the Assumption of a Special System of Reference and Special Relativity

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

In a previous work, we have shown that the null result of the Michelson–Morley experiment in vacuum is deeply connected with the notion of time. The same is true for the postulate of constancy of the two-way speed of light in vacuum in all frames independently of the state of motion of the emitting body. The argumentation formerly given is very general and has to be true not only within Special Relativity and its “equivalence” of all inertial frames, but as well as in Lorentz-Poincaré scenario of a preferred reference frame. This paper is the second of a trilogy intending to revisit the foundations of Special Relativity, and addresses the question of the constancy of the one-way speed of light and of the differences and similarities between both scenarios. Although they manifestly differ in philosophy, it is debated why and how the assumption of a “special system of reference experimentally inaccessible” is indeed compatible with Einstein’s Special Relativity, as beautifully outlined and discussed by Bell [Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1988)]. This rather trivial statement is still astonishing nowadays to a big majority of scientists. The purpose of this work is to bring such assertion into perspective, widening the somewhat narrow view of Special Relativity often presented in textbooks and scientific papers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Guerra V., de Abreu R., (2005). “The conceptualization of time and the constancy of the speed of light”. Eur. J. Phys. 26, S117

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Bell J.S., (1988). Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  3. Selleri F., (1996). “Noninvariant one-way velocity of light”. Found. Phys. 26, 641

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Selleri F., (2005). “The inertial transformations and the relativity principle”. Found. Phys. Lett. 18, 325

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Mansouri R., Sexl R.U., (1977). “A test theory of special relativity: I. Simultaneity and clock synchronization”. Gen. Relat. Gravit. 8, 497

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. M. Consoli and E. Costanzo, “The motion of the solar system and the Michelson–Morley experiment,” http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0311576 (2003).

  7. Consoli M., Costanzo E., (2004). “From classical to modern ether-drift experiments: the narrow window for a preferred frame”. Phys. Lett. A 333, 355

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. R. T. Cahill and K. Kitto, “Re-analysis of Michelson–Morley experiments reveals agreement with COBE cosmic background radiation preferred frame so impacting on interpretation of general relativity,” http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0205070 (2002).

  9. Cahill R.T., Kitto K., (2003). “Michelson-Morley experiments revisited and the cosmic background radiation preferred frame”. Apeiron 10, 104

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cahill R.T., (2004). “Absolute motion and gravitational effects”. Apeiron 11, 53

    Google Scholar 

  11. Miller D.C., (1933). “The ether-drift experiment and the determination of the absolute motion of the Earth”. Rev. Mod. Phys. 5, 203

    Article  MATH  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. V. Guerra and R. de Abreu, “Comment on ‘from classical to modern ether-drift experiments: the narrow window for a preferred frame’ [Phys. Lett. A 333, 355 (2004)],” Phys. Lett. A (2006) in press, doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2006.09.033

  13. de Abreu R., Guerra V., (2005). Relativity—Einstein’s Lost Frame, 1st edn. Extramuros, Lisboa

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. Einstein, in Einstein’s Miraculous Year, J. Stachel, ed. (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1998) [(the article first appeared in Ann. Phys. 17, 123–160 (1905)].

    Google Scholar 

  15. Feynman R.P., Leighton R.B., Sands M., (1979). The Feynman Lectures on Physics, 13th edn. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA

    Google Scholar 

  16. Serway R.A., Beichner R.J., (2000). Physics For Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, 5th edn. Saunders College Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  17. Leubner C., Aufinger K., Krumm P., (1992). “Elementary relativity with ‘everyday’ clock synchronization”. Eur. J. Phys. 13, 170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. M. C. Duffy, Physical Interpretations of Relativity Theory IX (Proceedings), vol.1 (PD Publications, Liverpool, 2004), pp. 158–202.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Física, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

    Vasco Guerra & Rodrigo de Abreu

  2. Centro de Física dos Plasmas, IST, Lisboa, Portugal

    Vasco Guerra

Authors
  1. Vasco Guerra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rodrigo de Abreu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vasco Guerra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guerra, V., de Abreu, R. On the Consistency between the Assumption of a Special System of Reference and Special Relativity. Found Phys 36, 1826–1845 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-006-9085-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-006-9085-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation