special relativity

Special Relativity

Relativity

A point has been raised about the special theory of relativity concerning the Lorentz transformation equations. The three equations affecting length, mass, and time are considered accepted by the scientific community without question. The change of length between two systems in relative motion works fine. So does the change of mass between two systems in relative motion. They both dilate, or stretch when in motion, and return to initial values when the systems come back to rest with respect to each other. But the dilation of time is a little different. There is the rate of time, and also the duration or change of instantaneous time. The rate of passage of time returns to the same when both systems are at rest relative to each other, but the difference of time remains different.

The idea of time has two aspects, different from length and mass. While the concept has been thought out in depth, there still remains a question. Taking two systems, A and B, let’s set in motion one of the systems and it doesn’t matter which one because neither is absolute. The clocks start out synchronized at a given time say 1 o’clock. Lets say the velocity between the systems is such that after an hour in system B, the time measured in system A from system B is only ½ hour. Stop the movement now and the rate of time between the two are again synchronized but with a difference in time of ½ hour, system A having it’s clock showing 1:30 and system B showing 2:00. So far so good. The theory also states, however, that the measured time of system B from system A is likewise slow by the same amount, namely ½ hour. Relative to system A, system B’s clock shows ½ hour slow compared to system A. The rate of time relative to each other is observed to slow down, but when brought to rest, the rate comes back to be the same as each other, but the difference in time still remains. That difference is supposed to be observed from each system even when brought to a standstill. This is a discrepancy of the theory itself, not relying on ‘common sense’ which we are supposed to let go.

The question then remains, when both systems come together at rest again, which clock is going to be ahead or behind the other? Both cannot be, otherwise we would have a means of determining an absolute motion. Now if we equate system B with let’s say the Earth, and system A with an airplane, each having a cesium clock to compare with each other, we are told that the clock on board the airplane runs slower and after a while when it lands and the two are compared, that the clock aboard the airplane is slower than the one on the Earth. Is the theory working on only one side of this experiment? Why isn’t the Earth clock seen as being slower relative to the clock aboard the airplane?

Some explanations have been given which seem to gloss over the discrepancy to avoid facing the problem. A comparison has been made by comparing two people who, seeing each other at a distance, each sees the other smaller the farther apart they are. When they come back to each other, their sizes are once again the same. This explanation has no comparison or bearing whatsoever to the relativistic problem at hand. Most scientists and scholars seem to play blind man’s bluff with this problem, but a few have given it serious consideration. If this contradictory consequence caused by the theory itself is indeed valid, what does it do for the rest of the theory and what does it imply for both special and general relativity? So many aspects have been ‘proven’ with various experiments that it’s hard to imagine that the theories are invalid. Other experimental results show that the assumption of the constant velocity of light may be invalid, or that there might be instantaneous action at a distance. What do you think?