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Re: [Phys-l] Teaching Special Relativity




The driving essence of the principle of (special) relativity is that physics is the same in all (inertial) reference frames. This means that measured quantities are related by the same quantitative equations. This is achieved by (Lorentz) transforming the measurables in the invariant equations.

For example in the case of the simple bouncing photon clock, the physics is simply that time of travel = distance traveled, divided by the frame invariant speed "c".

Both the "proper observer"(traveling with the clock) and the "stationary observer" use this same physics to describe the observed reality. But when you compare the calculations of the two observers, it will be apparent that the stationary observer calculates the time of travel as a larger distance divided by the same speed "c".

The measurable quantities appearing in the physics equation are the physicists "reality"; and these realities change numerical values (through Lorentz transformations) when measured in different reference frames, the physics (equation) remaining the same.

This is the same relativity which describes the E and B components of an electromagnetic field when viewed in different frames. There is no universal "proper" frame in which E and B are measured as their "real" values. (Is it that we want to resurrect the "aether frame"?)

Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
treborsci@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/res12merh/