[Phys-L] Re: Assignment for Einsteinians

[Pentcho Valev <valevp@BAS.BG>]

On Fri, 1 Jul 2005 15:07:16 -0400, Ludwik Kowalski
<kowalskil@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU> wrote:

> On Friday, Jul 1, 2005, Pentcho Valev wrote:
>
> > . . .  The problem with relativity is not that it is wrong;
> > rather, it leads to a destruction of rationality by forcing
> > people to think in terms of oxymorons . . . .
>
> Well, if the theory is correct then what is being criticized?
> I suppose it is the way in which the theory was derived.
> That is pedagogy. Better derivations, perhaps starting
> with different postulates, can probably be produced.

No the theory is not correct (perhaps my English is not quite correct as
well). Technically, the only problem with relativity is that it starts from
a false axiom - the principle of constancy of speed of light. The situation
is simple - it is Newton's particle model rather than the wave model that
is relevant as one considers the speed of light moving through vacuum.
According to the particle model, photons are analogous to bullets and their
speed does depend on the speed of source or observer. In fact, Einstein
knew about this - there is much indirect evidence showing his desperate
attempts to get rid of the false axiom. On the other hand, abandoning the
axiom is fatal for the theory - he knew that as well. In fact, the true
axiom (the speed of light is variable) plus the equivalence principle could
generate a nice although much humbler theory that could provide valuable
results (e.g. the redshift factor). Einstein knew that as well and
exploited this humbler theory. However he did not have either the courage
or the honesty to abandon the 1905 glory.

In my view, it would be easy to restore student's rationality by starting
from two hypoteses: 1. Speed of light is constant; 2. Speed of light is
variable; and derive everything that could be derived from them. The
derivations are not difficult, all students will understand them and,
believe me, ALL final results will confirm the truth of the second
hypothesis.

Pentcho Valev
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