Relativity and Cosmology

   

The Perceived Image of Time: Unraveling The Special Relativity Misconceptions

Authors: Radwan M. Kassir

Applying basic classical physics concepts of time and space, while considering event information is ultimately communicated through light—or electromagnetic—signals, it was shown that proper time interval measured in an inertial reference frame (labeled as traveling “object frame”) between two co-local events occurring at the frame origin undergoes apparent alteration and perceived as a “time image” in another inertial frame (labeled as stationary “image frame”), when the two frames are in relative motion. The same “time image” was perceived by either frame due to the change of the light speed relative to the reference frames. Under certain conditions of events spatial coordinates, it was shown through obtained modified Galilean transformations that “apparent” length contraction and expansion were associated with “apparent” time dilation and contraction, respectively. In the case the Emission Theory of light was considered, symmetry in regard to the time and space alteration factors between the frames was shown (i.e., time and space in the traveling “object frame” were perceived in the stationary “image frame” altered by the same factors as for the case when the frame “labels” were swapped). The known classical Doppler Effect was readily derived from the established alteration factors. For all classical approaches, and in the case of light, the wave length was invariant. In the case the Special Relativity approach was considered, i.e. when the speed of light was assumed constant with respect to all inertial reference frames, inconsistent time “images” were perceived, so an ad hoc assumption was required, imposing an artificial transformation distorting the Emission Theory “time image” dimension by the inverse of the relativistic factor "gamma" leading to the Lorentz transformation, applicable under special conditions of the space coordinates in the direction of motion. Misconceptions in the Special Relativity interpretation of the Lorentz transformation were systematically revealed. Time alteration was perceived as a dilated “image” for receding frames, and contracted for approaching ones. Self-contradiction in the Lorentz transformation was revealed in connection with the time contraction for approaching frames. When the frames receded and then approached during equal proper time intervals, the net time interval was perceived as an “image” dilated by "gamma" for the Special Relativity approach, as opposed to "gamma^2" for the Light Emission theory. For the Ether Theory assumption, either time dilation or time invariance was obtained depending on whether the traveling “object frame” was taken to be the ether frame. The “inverse” transformation was shown to be different from the “opposite” transformation in the way that the former had “image” arguments—returning “object” entities—whereas the latter had “object” arguments in the swapped frame “labels” scenario. Furthermore, they have opposite coordinate domains in the motion direction, although they exhibited the same form; “symmetry” misconceptions were revealed. The known relativistic Doppler Effect was readily derived. For the case of light, the perceived frequency exhibiting a blue shift (frequency increase) in the case of approaching frames, was in line with the established time contraction in this study, contradicting the Special Relativity prediction of time dilation irrespective of whether the frames were receding or approaching. In addition, the wavelength exhibited an increase in the case of receding frames, whereas it decreased when the source was approaching. Available experimental data related to [apparent] time dilations, Doppler Effect, and non-existence of preferred reference frame for light propagation (Michelson-Morley experiment) could then be analyzed vis-à-vis the classical theories in terms of apparent time and space transformations.

Comments: 53 pages - A simplified physical approach using basic concepts leading to the exposure of the Special Relativity misconceptions. [v2] added paragraph under LT section.

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Submission history

[v1] 2014-11-27 08:37:26
[v2] 2014-11-28 05:22:47

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