Re: [OT] Speed of light as speed limit (was Re: DECW$CLOCK design

briggs_at_encompasserve.org
Date: 02/17/05 

Date: 17 Feb 2005 07:27:52 -0600

In article <1117ohnh402gd35@corp.supernews.com>, Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> writes:
> I know of no research done from the perspective of the particle, mainly
> because we do not have the capability of being on a particle at
> lightspeed relative to an outside observer.

Despite the way it is presented in school, relativity is not about
observers. It's about reference frames.

There is no difficulty in adopting a reference frame in which it is
the particle accelerator that's whipping by at .999c and the particle
which is stationary.

We have measuring instruments that work at .999c. Muons generated
by cosmic rays, for instance. Their lifetime is a "clock". And
the observation of muons induced by cosmic rays is evidence that
strongly supports special relativity.

> The real question, which at
> this time we cannot answer, is what's possible relative to the particle
> that's at or near lightspeed relative to an outside observer.

The posited answer is that the laws of physics are invariant with
respect to choice of inertial reference frame.

The experimental evidence is consistent with this being true
and inconsistent with any alternate theory proposed to date.

        John Briggs

Relevant Pages

  • Forms of relativistic dynamics (was: Connes ...)
    ... > about the time-dependence of particle observables (this time dependence ... three natural forms of relativistic dynamics, the instant form, ... hypothetical observer who has knowledge about all information at some ... any axis along a timelike 4-vector, and (in special relativity) ...
    (sci.physics.research)
  • Re: The SRians Said: Time is What the Clock Measures
    ... >> only alternative remaining is special relativity. ... >>>a wave that propagates that medium. ... >> any massless particle. ... >>>earth's rotation would practically mean that the traveller shall ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: The SRians Said: Time is What the Clock Measures
    ... > only alternative remaining is special relativity. ... >>a wave that propagates that medium. ... > any massless particle. ... While the traveller experiences 81 sunrises, ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Article: A Century of Einstein
    ... >> theory can't then obey the principle of relativity in its most extreme ... Ever heard of a high-energy particle physics experiment where they ... experiment therefore proves that lightbeam geometry in the core of a ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Article: A Century of Einstein
    ... >> theory can't then obey the principle of relativity in its most extreme ... Ever heard of a high-energy particle physics experiment where they ... experiment therefore proves that lightbeam geometry in the core of a ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)