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Coordinate transforms VS space-time transforms

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z@z

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Jan 13, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/13/00
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The whole LET-SR-GR-GET debate (and probably also the corresponding
theories themselves) is overshadowed by the confusion between
coordinate transformations (Lorentz Ether Theory) and space-time
transformations (Special Relativity).

The cordinate transformation x'=2x means that in the coordinate
system S' a value of 10 m is attributed to the same objective
length to which 5 m are attributed in the system S. Rulers of S'
are contracted wrt the rulers in S.

The same space-time transformation x'=2x means exactly the contrary:
A length of 5 m in the system S is transformed into a length of 10 m
in system S'. Rulers of S' are expanded by factor 2 wrt the rulers
in S.

Whereas (original) LET uses a Lorentz coordinate transformation,
SR is fundamentally based on a Lorentz space-time transformation.

If we use a space-time transformation in LET, the correct
equations are not the SR equations

Dx' = [Dx - v Dt ] * gamma [1a]
Dt' = [Dt - v Dx /c^2] * gamma [1b]
Dx = [Dx'+ v Dt' ] * gamma [2a]
Dt = [Dt'+ v Dx'/c^2] * gamma [2b]

but

Dx' = [Dx - v Dt ] / gamma [1A]
Dt' = [Dx - v Dx/c^2] / gamma [1B]

and length contraction must be derived from [1A]

Dt = 0 --> Dx'= Dx / gamma

whereas in SR it is derived from [2a]

Dt' = 0 --> Dx = Dx' * gamma --> Dx' = Dx / gamma

See also http://www.deja.com/=dnc/getdoc.xp?AN=567242853


Regards, Wolfgang

Tom Roberts

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Jan 13, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/13/00
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"z@z" wrote:
> The whole LET-SR-GR-GET debate (and probably also the corresponding
> theories themselves) is overshadowed by the confusion between
> coordinate transformations (Lorentz Ether Theory) and space-time
> transformations (Special Relativity).

Not really. Apparently you have never heard of the difference between
"active" transforms and "passive" transforms, and attempted to make
up a whole new vocabulary for them. In an active transform one uses
a single set of coordinates and performs some modification of the
physical system; in a passive transform one performs the inverse
modification to the coordinates.

So, for instance, an active transform could consist of a 90-degree
rotation of an object clockwise around its vertical axis. The
corresponding passive transform is a 90-degree rotation of the
coordinates counterclockwise around that same axis. The results
of each of these are the same (vis-a-vis the relationship between
globe and coordinates).

Both concepts are valid, and indeed are related by an isomorphism.
It does not matter which concept you use, as long as you remain
consistent throughout.


> If we use a space-time transformation in LET, the correct

> equations are not the SR equations [...] but


> Dx' = [Dx - v Dt ] / gamma [1A]
> Dt' = [Dx - v Dx/c^2] / gamma [1B]

^
+-- typo, should be t

You are wrong. Demonstrably. Look in Lorentz's 1904 paper. His
transforms multiply by gamma (his beta) just like SR's.

Why do you think they are called _LORENTZ_ transforms?
Hint: Lorentz used them in his 1904 paper, and 1904 came
before 1905.

Oh yes, your usage of "Dx" and "Dt" (etc.) are simply devices you
think highlight that you are discussing differences rather than
coordinates. In fact, the usual notation "x" and "t" also refer to
differences -- between the event in question and the event selected
as x=0,t=0.

This only holds in a linear theory, like SR and LET.


Tom Roberts tjro...@lucent.com

Daryl McCullough

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Jan 13, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/13/00
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Tom Roberts says...

>Both concepts [passive and active transforms]


>are valid, and indeed are related by an isomorphism.
>It does not matter which concept you use, as long as you remain
>consistent throughout.

I would like to point out that there *is* a difference
between the two concepts when it comes to invariance
properties. To say that the laws of physics should be
invariant under passive transformations is really to
say nothing at all. You can always write any laws
in such a way that any coordinate system can be
used. However, there is real physical content to
the claim that the laws of physics are invariant under
*active* transformations.

Daryl McCullough
CoGenTex, Inc.
Ithaca, NY


Tom Roberts

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Jan 14, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/14/00
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Daryl McCullough wrote:
> Tom Roberts says...
> >Both concepts [passive and active transforms]
> >are valid, and indeed are related by an isomorphism.
> >It does not matter which concept you use, as long as you remain
> >consistent throughout.
> I would like to point out that there *is* a difference
> between the two concepts when it comes to invariance
> properties.

I disagree. See below.


> To say that the laws of physics should be
> invariant under passive transformations is really to
> say nothing at all. You can always write any laws
> in such a way that any coordinate system can be
> used.

Yes. The usual way to do this is to specify the laws in a specific
coordinate system, and then _define_ them in any other coordinate
system to be what the originally-stated laws transform to in the
other coordinate system. This is the essence of the "comma goes to
semicolon" rule (specify the laws in an inertial frame, then replace
ordinary derivatives with covariant derivatives; implicitly one
generalizes the tensors of the inertial frame into the corresponding
tensors of the curved manifold, and the covariance group of the
tensors implicitly expands from that of the inertial frame to the
necessary general covariance of the curved manifold).

"inertial frame" = "flat manifold".


> However, there is real physical content to
> the claim that the laws of physics are invariant under
> *active* transformations.

Not really. I think what you mean is to claim that invarance related
to a _REAL_ transform (i.e. a real physical modification to the system
which leaves some property unchanged) has "real physical content". No
argument there, but that is not what is meant by an active transform.
I'll come back to this point.

As an example, let me choose rotations. To say a given law is invariant
over rotations means that the law does not refer to the orientation of
the system in any way. An active transform rotates the system relative
to the coordinates, and a passive transform rotates the coordinates
relative to to the system. These have the same content and the same
end result WHEN EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF THE COORDINATES OF THE SYSTEM.
So for laws expressed in terms of coordinates they are equivalent
(isomorphic).

[In passing I remark that this is an incentive to express the
laws in a coordinate-independent way. The law:
g^ik F_ij;k = 0
has both active and passive transforms. The law:
dF = 0
has neither, because it is not expressed in terms of
coordinates at all.]


Consider a manifold M. A coordinate system C is a 1-to-1 mapping of a
region of M onto a region of R^n. I consider only C's domain. An active
transform A is a mapping of M onto itself. The corresponding passive
transform is a mapping P of the region of R^n to itself such that
CA = PC for every point of M in the domain of C. By construction these
two mappings A and P are isomorphic within this region; each is a
mapping from this region of M onto the region of R^n.

The point is, both active and passive transforms are operations WITHIN
THE MODEL. The "real" transform I discussed above is NOT within the
model, but is a real change to the physical system (so the word
"transform" is not really appropriate, but is the best I could do).

Yes, invariances under "real" transforms like this have "real physical
content". But the distinction between active and passive transforms
is purely formal, and both are wholly within the model. Neither has
any "real physical content" at all, and they are merely different
ways of looking at the model and/or of relating the model to the world.

Getting back to rotations, you will have _great_ difficulty describing
a "real" rotation of the _ENTIRE_ system -- to what will you reference
this "rotation" to? But the active and passive transforms do not suffer
from this difficulty, as they both merely affect the relationship
between the system and the coordinates (i.e. between the "real" world
and the model coordinates). And the coordinates were arbitrary in the
first place.

A final remark: the restriction of SR to inertial frames is
a restriction which has significant physical content. But
the general covariance of GR is without such physical content,
as discussed above.


Tom Roberts tjro...@lucent.com

z@z

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Jan 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/16/00
to
: = Tom Roberts
:: = Daryl McCullough
::: = Tom Roberts
:::: = Wolfgang G. in http://www.deja.com/=dnc/getdoc.xp?AN=571890451

:::: The whole LET-SR-GR-GET debate (and probably also the corresponding


:::: theories themselves) is overshadowed by the confusion between
:::: coordinate transformations (Lorentz Ether Theory) and space-time
:::: transformations (Special Relativity).

::: Not really. Apparently you have never heard of the difference between
::: "active" transforms and "passive" transforms, and attempted to make
::: up a whole new vocabulary for them. In an active transform one uses
::: a single set of coordinates and performs some modification of the
::: physical system; in a passive transform one performs the inverse
::: modification to the coordinates.

::: Both concepts are valid, and indeed are related by an isomorphism.


::: It does not matter which concept you use, as long as you remain
::: consistent throughout.

:: I would like to point out that there *is* a difference between the

:: two concepts when it comes to invariance properties. To say that the


:: laws of physics should be invariant under passive transformations is
:: really to say nothing at all. You can always write any laws in such

:: a way that any coordinate system can be used. However, there is real


:: physical content to the claim that the laws of physics are invariant
:: under *active* transformations.

: Not really. I think what you mean is to claim that invariance related


: to a _REAL_ transform (i.e. a real physical modification to the system
: which leaves some property unchanged) has "real physical content". No
: argument there, but that is not what is meant by an active transform.
: I'll come back to this point.
:
: As an example, let me choose rotations. To say a given law is invariant
: over rotations means that the law does not refer to the orientation of
: the system in any way. An active transform rotates the system relative
: to the coordinates, and a passive transform rotates the coordinates
: relative to to the system. These have the same content and the same
: end result WHEN EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF THE COORDINATES OF THE SYSTEM.
: So for laws expressed in terms of coordinates they are equivalent
: (isomorphic).

: The point is, both active and passive transforms are operations WITHIN


: THE MODEL. The "real" transform I discussed above is NOT within the
: model, but is a real change to the physical system (so the word
: "transform" is not really appropriate, but is the best I could do).
:
: Yes, invariances under "real" transforms like this have "real physical
: content". But the distinction between active and passive transforms
: is purely formal, and both are wholly within the model. Neither has
: any "real physical content" at all, and they are merely different
: ways of looking at the model and/or of relating the model to the world.

If we accept this notation, we can say that both LET and SR use "REAL"
transforms. The decisive question however is, whether LET is also based
on ACTIVE transforms as SR undoubtedly is.

Lorentz presents in his well-known 1904 paper these formulae (4,5):

x' = BLx, y' = Ly, z' = Lz, t' = Lt/B - (BLx/c)(v/c)

Poincaré presents in his last pre-SR paper of June 1905:

x' = kl(x + epsilon t), y' = ly, z' = lz, t' = kl(t + epsilon x)

Taking into consideration that L = l = 1, we get

for Lorentz (a Galilean transform is implicitely assumed):

x' = gamma x, t' = t/gamma - (gamma x/c)(v/c)

for Poincaré:

x' = gamma (x + vt) t' = gamma (t + vx/c^2)

for Einstein:

x' = gamma (x - vt) t' = gamma (t - vx/c^2)

In the case of Lorentz, it is clear that only a PASSIVE transform can
be meant, because otherwise x' = gamma x would represent an expansion
and not a contraction.

In the case of Poincaré apart from the continuity with the work of
Lorentz also the fact that he uses "+" where Einstein uses "-" could
be evidence that he uses a PASSIVE transform.

If we write Einstein's version as a PASSIVE transform, we get the
following result, don't we?

x' = (x + vt) / gamma t' = (t + vx/c^2) / gamma

Whereas the math is exactly the same, there is huge physical difference
between the ACTIVE and the PASSIVE interpretation. So from a purely
mathematical point of view, a Lorentz-expansion is fully equivalent
to Lorentz-contraction, because it depends only on the way (ACTIVE or
PASSIVE) we interpret the Lorentz transform.


Wolfgang Gottfried G. (0:015.6)

Tom Roberts

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Jan 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/22/00
to
"z@z" wrote:
> In the case of Poincaré apart from the continuity with the work of
> Lorentz also the fact that he uses "+" where Einstein uses "-" could
> be evidence that he uses a PASSIVE transform.

Either that, or they defined the direction of motion in the opposite
direction of each other.


> If we write Einstein's version as a PASSIVE transform, we get the
> following result, don't we?
> x' = (x + vt) / gamma t' = (t + vx/c^2) / gamma

No. You have to invert the transform, and get:

x' = gamma (x + vt) t' = gamma (t + vx/c^2)

> Whereas the math is exactly the same, there is huge physical difference
> between the ACTIVE and the PASSIVE interpretation.

Not really. They're merely different points of view, and are
_isomorphic_ to each other.


> So from a purely
> mathematical point of view, a Lorentz-expansion is fully equivalent
> to Lorentz-contraction, because it depends only on the way (ACTIVE or
> PASSIVE) we interpret the Lorentz transform.

Not true. There is never any sort of "Lorentz expansion". You made
a mistake in inverting the transform above.


Tom Roberts tjro...@lucent.com

Daryl McCullough

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Jan 23, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/23/00
to
Tom says...
>
>Daryl McCullough wrote:

>> However, there is real physical content to
>> the claim that the laws of physics are invariant under
>> *active* transformations.
>

>Not really. I think what you mean is to claim that invarance related

>to a _REAL_ transform (i.e. a real physical modification to the system
>which leaves some property unchanged) has "real physical content". No
>argument there, but that is not what is meant by an active transform.
>I'll come back to this point.

I still don't agree with you here, but let me explain
why I say that there is physical content to invariance
under active transformations.

A coordinate system is basically a particular way of
describing the states of a system. Different coordinate
systems describe the same physical state in different
ways. Given any transformation T that maps one coordinate
system into another, we can define a corresponding map
m from states to states as follows:

m(s) = that state s' such that the description of s' in
coordinate system C is the same as the description
of s in coordinate system T(C).

So, as far as descriptions of states, it doesn't make any
difference whether you keep the state constant, and change
coordinates from C to T(C), or you keep the coordinate system
constant, and change state from s to m(s).

But once we start talking about dynamics, there is a big
difference between these two. To say that the laws of
dynamics are invariant under the physical change s --> m(s)
means that

d(m(s)) ds
------- = m ----
dt dt

This definitely has physical content.

z@z

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Jan 25, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/25/00
to
: = Tom Roberts
:: = Wolfgang G. in http://www.deja.com/=dnc/getdoc.xp?AN=573350660

:: Taking into consideration that L = l = 1, we get


::
:: for Lorentz (a Galilean transform is implicitely assumed):
::
:: x' = gamma x, t' = t/gamma - (gamma x/c)(v/c)
::
:: for Poincaré:

::
:: x' = gamma (x + vt) t' = gamma (t + vx/c^2)
::
:: for Einstein:
::
:: x' = gamma (x - vt) t' = gamma (t - vx/c^2)


::
:: In the case of Lorentz, it is clear that only a PASSIVE transform can
:: be meant, because otherwise x' = gamma x would represent an expansion
:: and not a contraction.

:: In the case of Poincaré apart from the continuity with the work of


:: Lorentz also the fact that he uses "+" where Einstein uses "-" could
:: be evidence that he uses a PASSIVE transform.
:
: Either that, or they defined the direction of motion in the opposite
: direction of each other.

In any case, I just had to recognize that also Einstein uses a
PASSIVE transform.

"If Dx, Dt, etc. denote coordinate differences, the Lorentz
transformation takes in the case of a relative speed of 0.6 c
this form:

Dx' = 1.25 [Dx - 0.6 c Dt] [ 1a ]
Dt' = 1.25 [Dt - O.6/c Dx] [ 1b ]

Dx = 1.25 [Dx' + 0.6 c Dt'] [ 2a ]
Dt = 1.25 [Dt' + O.6/c Dx'] [ 2b ]

The proper lenght Dx' of the body in the moving frame S' is 1 LY.
A superficial examination could suggest that equation [2a] entails
an elongation by the factor 1.25 (resulting in 1.25 LY) for the
frame S. But correct is exactly the contrary: a contraction to
0.8 LY (1 LY/1.25)." http://members.lol.li/twostone/E/paradox.html

This is from a text I wrote in 1988 and translated into English in
1999. The whole argument that Einstein uses an active transform
results from my mixing up [1a] with [2a].

:: So from a purely
:: mathematical point of view, a Lorentz-expansion is fully equivalent


:: to Lorentz-contraction, because it depends only on the way (ACTIVE or
:: PASSIVE) we interpret the Lorentz transform.
:
: Not true. There is never any sort of "Lorentz expansion". You made
: a mistake in inverting the transform above.

Yes. In another respect however, EXPANSION is as present in SR as
CONTRACTION. Every moving object contracted by gamma wrt the rest
frame is expanded by the same factor (again wrt the rest frame) when
observed simultanously in the moving frame. (That this requires
constant velocities is a serious problem for SR.)

The EXPANSION can also be explained using LET. Assume a body moving
at v = sqrt(0.99)c wrt the ether. If its rest length is 10 m, then
it is contracted to 1 m. If we send from the center of the body a
signal to both edges, the sum of both signal paths is 100 m. Whereas
the path in direction of the ether wind is only around 0.25 m [1] the
signal in the opposite direction crosses an ether distance of 99.75 m
[2] before reaching the edge of the body.

Sorry for confusion
Wolfgang

[1] 0.5 m / (1 + sqrt(0.99) = 0.25 m
[2] 0.5 m / (1 - sqrt(0.99) = 99.75 m

Tom Roberts

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Jan 25, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/25/00
to
"z@z" wrote:
> Yes. In another respect however, EXPANSION is as present in SR as
> CONTRACTION. Every moving object contracted by gamma wrt the rest
> frame is expanded by the same factor (again wrt the rest frame) when
> observed simultanously in the moving frame. (That this requires
> constant velocities is a serious problem for SR.)

If you intermix measurements and observations from different
coordinate systems you can obtain any sort of nonsense you like. But
in SR, when you only discuss what a given observer can observe, there
is never any expansion of a moving object (i.e. the moving object is
never measured to be larger than its proper size).

By "observer" I really mean measurements made from a single
inertial frame. In particular, the observer normally is
considered to have assistants collocated with any
measurements, and they all use clocks and rulers at rest
in the observer's inertial frame, and synchronized in it.


I have no idea what you are trying to say in your last parenthetical
remark above.


> The EXPANSION can also be explained using LET.

Yes, one can make the same mistake in LET, and obtain the same
nonsense. LET is mathematically equivalent to SR, and offers the
same opportunities to make errors (:-)).


Tom Roberts tjro...@lucent.com

Arlin Brown

unread,
Jan 25, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/25/00
to
Re: 1-25-00, 10:44am (EST-1) posting of Tom Roberts

Tom writes: If you intermix measurements and observations from


different coordinate systems you can obtain any sort of nonsense you
like.

Arlin Jean: That's because SR is a very mixed up theory. For starters
(a bad start), every SR equation contains at least one real quantity and
at least one illusory quantity. and from there, contradictions abound,
The traveling twin comes to a false conclusion about whose clock really
run faster, whose rods are longer and whose masses are heavier. SR's
separated clocks are always out of sync by definition. Since these
clocks never read the same, they must always differ by some finite
amount. One clock is always ahead of the other. SRians can't deal with
which clock is ahead of the other, or with exactly how much ahead one
clock is compared with the other, or why one particular clock is ahead
of the other. Most SRians remain stone silent while the others dish out
some metaphysical crap. AET, on the other hand, doesn't give a damn how
much you mix up observations and quantities. As long as you obey the
rules of math (which is nothing more than the proven rules of logic
expressed in symbols), you can do anything that pleases your fancy. You
can't do this with SR because it's so far removed from reality that many
of its observed measurement values are illusory (quantitatively
differing from the real value they're incorrectly trying to measure). SR
rests on a foundation of quicksilver, while AET rests on a solid
foundation. AET can express every SR quantity as a function of real
quantities. This is how you can derive either theory from the other. SR
and AET are opposite sides of the same coin. It's SR's faulty OWLS=c
definition that throws SR into a metaphysical cocked hat, resulting in
many paradoxes (defined by the dictionary as an apparent contradiction
which can be explained). The problem with SR is that it can't physically
explain ANY paradox, and spacetime is just another mathematical method
(in geometrical form) of getting the predicted measurement answer (real
or illusory) that the seriously flawed SR theory is looking for. The
ONLY reason that non-existent spacetime is considered at all is because
Einstein tried to force out-of-sync clocks into sync by PRETENDING (with
no experimental justification to this very day after 95 years) that the
one-way speed of light is equal to c, when it very seldom is. SR's
out-of-sync clocks can NOT be used to claim that OWLS is physically
equal to c. As Lorentz correctly pointed out, the equations based on the
OWLS definition are merely "tools for calculation." Tom, when your pet
theory doesn't have the foggiest notion how its measurement values
relate to physical REALITY, you end up with the nonsensical SR
imbroglio. You seem to think it's nonsense that clocks in one frame can
actually run faster than clocks in another frame, in spite of the fact
that this has been experimentally proven. A crackpot is defined as one
who can not accept proven facts and then goes off of a tangent with
notions that contradict those facts. But yet, SRians do precisely that.
Tom, if SRians just used a common frame in which to set their clocks,
different observations by different observers could be mixed up in any
and all mathematically-correct ways until the cows come home and there
would never be any contradictions, paradoxes, or nonsense of any kind.
It is not even necessary for a moving observer to come to rest in the
common reference frame, because the "moving" clocks could be set
according to speed calculations of the moving frame made in the
reference frame. All of the non-contradictory AET equations can be used
when all observers use the same IDENTICAL clock setting, not SR"s sorry
so-called relative sync. Nothing in nature demands that clocks be-set
upon a frame change. The ad hoc SR rule which demands this is physically
arbitrary and does not change physical reality. It just distorts the
MEASUREMENT of physical reality and you end up with at least 95 years of
utter nonsense which will NEVER be physically explained by the same
theory which produced the nonsense to begin with. I'll keep repeating
the FACT that no SRian understands SR on the physical level, because the
physical reality behind SR is the ether, and the ether mimics SR in
EVERY conceivable way known to science (the duck scenario).

Tom: But in SR, when you only discuss what a given observer can


observe, there is never any expansion of a moving object (i.e. the

motion object is never measured to be larger than its proper size).

Arlin Jean: An object expands when it slows down wrt the ether. When an
observer uses her clock to measure the rate of clocks moving by in
another frame, those clocks will be measured to be running FASTER and
the objects moving past will be measured to be LARGER. This measurement
procedure was always permitted in pre-SR days and it is ALWAYS permitted
when clocks are in sync in the observer's frame, such as in AET. It is
also permitted in MSR (modified SR), where all observers in all frames
have their separated clocks differing by the same finite amount at a
given local distance. This is done by all observers using the same
common reference frame to set their clocks SR-style.
---
Best,
Jeannie


and...@attglobal.net

unread,
Jan 25, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/25/00
to
Arlin Brown wrote:
>
> Re: 1-25-00, 10:44am (EST-1) posting of Tom Roberts
>
> Tom writes: If you intermix measurements and observations from
> different coordinate systems you can obtain any sort of nonsense you
> like.
>
> Arlin Jean: That's because SR is a very mixed up theory.

That is truly scraping the bottom of the barrel. How can any theory
defend itself against attacks that are based on misusing it.
Combining results from two different coordinate systems
is just plain stupid. The nonsensical results that you
get by doing this are no reflection on SR.

John Anderson

z@z

unread,
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
: = Tom Roberts in http://www.deja.com/=dnc/getdoc.xp?AN=577450711
:: = Wolfgang G. in http://www.deja.com/=dnc/getdoc.xp?AN=577202662

:: EXPANSION is as present in SR as


:: CONTRACTION. Every moving object contracted by gamma wrt the rest
:: frame is expanded by the same factor (again wrt the rest frame) when
:: observed simultanously in the moving frame. (That this requires
:: constant velocities is a serious problem for SR.)

:


: If you intermix measurements and observations from different

: coordinate systems you can obtain any sort of nonsense you like. But


: in SR, when you only discuss what a given observer can observe, there

: is never any expansion of a moving object (i.e. the moving object is


: never measured to be larger than its proper size).

It is clear that all the following variants can directly be derived
from the SR equations:

Dx' = Dx * gamma Dt' = Dt / gamma
Dx' = Dx / gamma Dt' = Dt * gamma

To all of them correspond clearly defined physical situations. If
a fast moving dark object of length L sends a light signal from
each end at the same moving-frame time, then the distance between
the two points where the signals are emitted is L*gamma in the rest
frame. This cannot be denied in a reasonable way!

In an analoguous way, the time of a moving system goes faster by
gamma wrt an observer at rest in the rest frame. If this were not
true, then also clocks of a rest frame could not run faster wrt
the time of a particle at rest in a moving frame.

: I have no idea what you are trying to say in your last parenthetical
: remark above.

That you have no idea only shows that you do not fully understand
SR length contraction. If not even you understand such a fundamental
principle of SR, then I must conclude that (almost?) nobody on
earth really understands SR (let alone GR).

See for instance: http://www.deja.com/=dnc/getdoc.xp?AN=551801940

:: The EXPANSION can also be explained using LET. [...]
:
: Yes, one can make the same mistake in LET, and obtain the same


: nonsense. LET is mathematically equivalent to SR, and offers the
: same opportunities to make errors (:-)).

I did not make a mistake. Try again:

"The EXPANSION can also be explained using LET. Assume a body moving
at v = sqrt(0.99)c wrt the ether. If its rest length is 10 m, then
it is contracted to 1 m. If we send from the center of the body a
signal to both edges, the sum of both signal paths is 100 m. Whereas

the path in direction of the ether wind is only around 0.25 m the


signal in the opposite direction crosses an ether distance of 99.75 m

before reaching the edge of the body."

Inasfar as LET is equivalent to SR it must be able to explain that
wrt a moving observer the ether shrinks by gamma in the same way as
the moving observer shrinks wrt the ether. Because real contraction
of the ether is impossible, the only remaining possibility is an
expansion of the observer by gamma.

Wolfgang

Arlin Brown

unread,
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
Re: 1-25-00, 7:30pm (EST-3) posting of John Anderson

John writes: Arlin Brown wrote: Tom Roberts wrote: If you intermix


measurements and observations from different coordinate systems you can
obtain any sort of nonsense you like.

Arlin Jean: That's because SR is a very mixed up theory.

John: That is truly scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Arlin Jean: Johnny baby, after that initial sentence of mine in my
1-25-99,1:55pm post, I went on to back up what I said by giving examples
of how flawed SR theory is. I realize that you don't like people
criticizing your little pet theory, but I have to call a spade a spade.
SR has many flaws and if you had read the entire post, you might have
learned what some of those flaws are.

John: How can any theory defend itself against attacks that are based
on misusing it.

Arlin Jean: It is not I who misuses SR theory. I don't abuse SR by
incorrectly mixing up what observers in different frames measure. I just
mathematically and physically explain SR. Because SR is so terribly
flawed, it lends itself easily to abuse by those who don't understand it
and those who think they can use logical thinking in dealing with
illogical equations (which are based on Einstein's physically false
OWLS=c definition) and end up with something logical. Nothing got mixed
up in pre-1905 physics when dealing with coordinate systems. Nothing
gets mixed up in AET. But SR is something else. It is illogical from the
onset with its nonsensical OWLS definition - then you wonder why SR is
replete with paradoxes and ad hoc measurement requirements?

John: Combining results from two different coordinate systems is just
plain stupid.

Arlin Jean: Yes, it is - viz. a viz. a stupid theory. On the other
hand, when you deal only with reality, as AET does, you can mix anything
you wish together, as long as you are mathematically correct. I have
shown in my SR/ether paper (available by e-mail for the asking) that you
can mix up the real quantities of AET with the illusory quantities of SR
in any way you wish, as long as you don't violate any math rules. In
this manner, we can derive AET from SR and vice versa, and do many other
interesting things like deriving the addition of velocities equation in
the SR form and in the AET form. We can also mathematically derive from
the reality of the ether the fact that two SR observers in relative
uniform motion wrt each other will each measure the same value for the
speed of the other frame. SR never derives this fact. It merely ASSUMES
it in order to agree with SR postulates.

John: The nonsensical results that you get by doing this are no
reflection on SR.

Arlin Jean: Since SR makes little logical sense to begin with, it is no
wonder that some people continue with more illogic. I'm not defending
illogic of any kind. I've always been a stickler for rationality, but I
see precious little of it from SRians. If SR theory were currently out
of favor with the physics establishment, its adherents would be
considered to be crackpots. But right now, you and other SRians have the
shielding protection of the majority. There's safety in numbers and in
falling into lock step with the majority.
---
Best,
Jeannie


Tom Roberts

unread,
Jan 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/27/00
to
"z@z" wrote:
> Inasfar as LET is equivalent to SR it must be able to explain that
> wrt a moving observer the ether shrinks by gamma in the same way as
> the moving observer shrinks wrt the ether. Because real contraction
> of the ether is impossible, the only remaining possibility is an
> expansion of the observer by gamma.

You have only a superficial understanding when you try to explain
this in terms of "contractions" only. You forgot the possibility
that the simultaneity of the measurements is different in the
different frames, so that the different observers in different
frames do not measure the same things. Lo and behold this explains
it fully when one works out the math.


Tom Roberts tjro...@lucent.com

Tom Roberts

unread,
Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00
to
Lou Verdon wrote:
> ...and how different is the math from the case that clocks physically
> change Newtonian "speed" as a function of the spacetime field which is so
> well characterized in GR?

You need to be far more precise. What sort of "field" do you mean, and
how does it affect "newtonian speed"?


> Errors in the relativity of simultaneity in 4 dimensional transformations
> are well known to create foreshortening or rotation of images. Why would
> you not consider the possibility of clock error due to an external field?

No "external field" is necessary, because the effects predicted by SR
to be changes in perspective are sufficient to describe zillions of
experimental measurements. So if one added in some sort of distortions
due to some "external field" one would not obtain agreement with
experiments.

And if you think these effects due purely to the influence of some
"external field" (i.e. no perspective at all), then this field must
affect more than clock rates. And you must also explain why perspective
in 3-space is geometrical but perspective in 4-space is partly
geometrical and partly due to your "external field". Unless you also
explain the ordinary 3-d perspective as due to some "directioniferous
ether" (but so far nobody has done that).

Ordinary 3-d perspective is what causes a ruler observed from
the side to appear wider than when observed from the end. This
is isomorphic to time dilation and length contraction in SR --
they are additional manifestations of geometrical perspective
in the 4 dimensions of Minkowski spacetime.


> SR does not identify the physical cause of time dilation, but it is very
> clear that there is a physical cause.

Not true. SR identifies the "cause" of time dilation as being due to
the geometry of the measurement. In SR it is QUITE CLEAR there is no
sort of "physical cause" at all, it is merely geometry.


> Why would you consider such a potential not to exist when an average field
> of less than 1 volt per 10^11 meters of space is all that is necessary?
> Do you think that such a minute field could be measured with normal
> laboratory instruments? In fact, we cannot even approach such resolution.
> Such a field is, I believe, wrongly approximated to nil in any real
> experiment.

At Fermilab experiments have sizes on the order of 10^3 meters, so your
putative field is on the order of 10^-8 volt difference from one end
to the other. This is ENORMOUSLY too small to cause a time dilation
with gamma ~2000 as seen in pions and muons at Fermilab. But I agree
nobody would measure it (:-)).

Actually, such static fields as you propose are very difficult
to measure. If you extend a voltmeter probe from "ground"
to some point far away, the equipotential surfaces near ground
will surround the lead and the voltmeter reads 0 even if there
is a large potential difference across the spatial region.
You cannot measure a potential difference across "empty space"
with a voltmeter, you can only measure one between two objects.
You could attempt to observe it by letting a charged particle
accelerate in the potential difference, but 10^-11 V/m would
be hopelessly too small to observe that way.


> The strong force is observed in the strong field and the weak force is
> observed in the weak field, and they are both simple electrical force.

You are believing the words "strong" and "weak" far too literally. In
particular, the form of the strong force is VERY DIFFERENT from that
of any known electrical force. Speaking loosely, the strong force gets
STRONGER as you separate two strongly-charged particles; electrical
forces get weaker as you separate two electrically-charged particles.
But also, weak forces are observed inside nuclei (e.g. beta decay) as
are strong forces, so they inhabit the same region but behave very
differently; _neither_ of them behaves in a manner similar to
electrical forces (e.g. the weak force causes neutrons to decay,
but neutrons are electrically neutral).

The strong and weak forces are both short-range nuclear
forces. They were named because of their relative coupling
constants at low energies.


Your model depends strongly on your personal ignorance of modern
physics. Learn some real physics and you will be able to see its
shortcomings.


Tom Roberts tjro...@lucent.com

and...@attglobal.net

unread,
Jan 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/31/00
to
Arlin Brown wrote:
>
> Re: 1-25-00, 7:30pm (EST-3) posting of John Anderson
>
> John writes: Arlin Brown wrote: Tom Roberts wrote: If you intermix
> measurements and observations from different coordinate systems you can
> obtain any sort of nonsense you like.
>
> Arlin Jean: That's because SR is a very mixed up theory.
>
> John: That is truly scraping the bottom of the barrel.
>
> Arlin Jean: Johnny baby,

[editorial deleted]

I have no interest in discussing what your aesthetic criteria
for a good physics theory are.

SR is a logically consistent theory that is supported by experiment.
As Tom Roberts has pointed out, AET is just SR in a coordinate
system in which clocks in all frames are synched. It differs
from SR by a coordinate transformation. They are really the
same theory in different coordinate systems.

Face it. Roberts understands your theory better than you do.

John Anderson

Standeven

unread,
Feb 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM2/5/00
to

Arlin Brown wrote:

> Re: 1-31-00, 8:54pm (EST-3) posting of John Anderson
>
> John writes: SR is a logically consistent theory that is supported by
> experiment.
>
> Arlin Jean: A half truth if I ever heard one. SR is quite INCONSISTENT.
> When a traveling twin measures the rate of an earth clock and gets an
> incorrect value for the ratio of that clock rate to her own clock rate,
> and the girl on earth measures the correct value for the ratio of the
> clock rates, THEN SR IS CLEARLY INCONSISTENT, unless you have your own
> pet definition of the word "inconsistent."

Yes. His "pet definition" of "inconsistent" is the same as everyone else's,
namely "self-contradictory". It is clear that SR does not have this
property, regardless of how "correct"
it may be. It is also clear that it agrees with experiments, and so is
"correct" according to everyone else's definition. It looks like you're the
one who has her own pet definitions...


Arlin Brown

unread,
Feb 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM2/6/00
to
Re: 2-5-00, 9:06pm (EST-1) posting of Standeven

Standeven writes: Arlin Brown wrote: John Anderson wrote: SR is a


logically consistent theory that is supported by experiment.

Arlin Jean: SR is quite inconsistent. When a traveling twin measures
the ratio of an earth clock and gets an incorrect value for the ratio of


that clock rate to her own clock rate, and the girl on earth measures
the correct value for the ratio of the clock rates, THEN SR IS CLEARLY
INCONSISTENT, unless you have your own pet definition of the word
"inconsistent."

Standeven: His "pet definition" of "inconsistent" is the same as


everyone else's, namely "self-contradictory".

Arlin Jean: In that case, he is clearly violating that definition of
"self-contradictory", because I have just pointed out an unmistakably
extremely clear cut case of an out-and-out contradiction. But you guys
are so BRAINWASHED that you see white and call it black. When I clearly
showed where Einstein divided by zero, instead of you guys calling
Einstein's bluff, I was attacked for criticizing your GOD. It is an
extremely egregious logical blunder to say that the in-flight clock rate
measurements of the traveling twins is not self-contradictory. If the
twins' measured clock rate ratios are not contradictory, then the word
has completely lost all meaning. I'm beginning to think that some of
you guys are mentally ill, because the most common form of mental
illness is the denial of reality. You can fool a lot of people when you
say that the SR paradoxes are not really paradoxes because measurements
have nothing to do with physical reality and what one observer measures
does not have to make any sense compared to what another observer
measures. Yes, you can make excuses for those paradoxes, since reality
never comes into the picture. BUT you just can't pull that same trick
when you're dealing with a touch of reality for a change. And the twins
paradox just gives us that touch of reality because the slow average
round-trip rate of the traveling clock is not relative. It is real. It
is not observer independent, because all observers in the universe agree
that the traveling clocks runs slower. You can't fake your way out of
this one, Standeven. You are a clear loser and have made a complete fool
of yourself by spouting such nonsense. You don't even know a
contradiction when you see it.
---
Have a nice day,
Jeannie


Standeven

unread,
Feb 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM2/6/00
to

Arlin Brown wrote:

> Re: 2-5-00, 9:06pm (EST-1) posting of Standeven
>
> Standeven writes: Arlin Brown wrote: John Anderson wrote: SR is a
> logically consistent theory that is supported by experiment.
>
> Arlin Jean: SR is quite inconsistent. When a traveling twin measures
> the ratio of an earth clock and gets an incorrect value for the ratio of
> that clock rate to her own clock rate, and the girl on earth measures
> the correct value for the ratio of the clock rates, THEN SR IS CLEARLY
> INCONSISTENT, unless you have your own pet definition of the word
> "inconsistent."
>
> Standeven: His "pet definition" of "inconsistent" is the same as
> everyone else's, namely "self-contradictory".
>
> Arlin Jean: In that case, he is clearly violating that definition of
> "self-contradictory", because I have just pointed out an unmistakably
> extremely clear cut case of an out-and-out contradiction.
>

Unfortunately, you didn't use SR to derive the prediction, so it is
irrelevent. (According to SR, measuring the ratio will give the _correct_
ratio, even for the travelling twin.)

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