Original content in Relativity Trail 03/09/2024 note. Einstein gets halfway there: In February 2024, during the process of researching a definition for use in my article, I stumbled upon an obscure lecture delivered by Einstein at Leyden in 1920. I learned, by way of reading the transcript of that lecture, that Einstein had by that time (fifteen years after his 1905 paper on relativity) come around to thinking about the nature of space as it relates to special relativity. Specifically, he forcefully argued that there is necessarily an underlying frame of reference for the effects of special relativity, i.e., a structure of space which imparts physical properties and provides "standards of space and time, [specifically] our measuring-rods and clocks". He stated: "Space without ether is unthinkable" and "the ether has to serve as medium for the effects of inertia". That is in sharp contrast to his original treatment, in which he had simply disregarded the nature of space. Having spent my entire adult life searching the literature for anyone other than myself who has understood and articulated why that background (call it ether or the totality of the cosmos) is not merely an option when it comes to explaining the effects of relativity, it seems safe to say that only Einstein himself rose to the task. Poincare, Lorentz and Fitzgerald did not come close. Einstein partially rose to the task. He never did go back and rework special relativity in absolute terms with new postulates. That fell to poor me alone. It was a task I never wanted or felt I should have to do. I did it in 2008. It's my book Relativity Trail, which I sell at the U of M. You can read what Einstein said in my article. Take the challenge. It's a short read. The link: relativitytrail.com/preprint.special_relativity.pdf ----------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile: Original content in Relativity Trail ------------------------------------ Postulates, observations and assumptions: The time-keeping differential between reunited clocks, which necessarily favors one party over the other, serves as proof of an absolute (though experimentally indiscernible) frame of reference. i.e. there is a "truth of the matter". Spacetime is a geometrical construct, dependent on Einstein's clock synchronization method. It comes up short in representing physical reality, as it describes a sudden perceived time gap upon a change in inertial motion. The ramifications of Einstein's two versions of his second postulate are analyzed and explained. See: pages 76-77 It is shown that the elimination of a universal (absolute) frame of reference leaves us with a circular definition of inertial frame, and with an unresolvable twins paradox of one's own making. See: page 25 Mach's Principle is shown to apply to a hierarchy of inertial motion. Actual constancy of light-speed is given a basis in the interchangeability of matter and energy. Clock functioning is defined. A basis is provided for the equivalence of clock functioning and biological aging. The Galilean Principle of Relativity is properly considered to be inextricably bound with synchronization of motion along different axes. Length contraction is given a Machian basis and is formally derived. Results Symmetry of measuring across inertial frames is diagrammed in absolute terms. Constancy of light-speed measure, independent of inertial frame, is diagrammed in absolute terms. The twins paradox is trivially dispensed with. The indeterminacy of one's motion relative to the universe is demonstrated. Einstein's clock synchronization is diagrammed in absolute terms. Einstein's mu and lambda are explained and derived in absolute terms. The symmetrical measure of inelastic collisions across inertial frames, with transfer of mass, is diagrammed in absolute terms. E = mc^2 is derived from an absolute basis. Also, importantly Complexity gives rise to the meaningfulness of inertial properties. "Simple universe" twins paradoxes are debunked. (And, of course, much more.) Phrases/terminologies originated in Relativity Trail include: Time differential between reunited clocks Inertial properties Hierarchy of clock rates Heirarchy of inertial motion From light's perspective, it is everywhere at once. From page 86 of Relativity Trail: Let's examine Einstein's assignment of tA - tB = tB - t'A in the context of the universal frame. Consider the following situation in the context of the universal frame:Clock B is in the positive direction of the AB motion from clock A, the AB system has an absolute velocity of 0.6, and A and B have a rest spatial separation of 1 ls (0.8 contracted) as seen against the universal reference frame. Einstein's definition of what constitutes a synchronization of those two clocks dictates that B's reading will be 0.6 second less than A's reading as seen against the universal frame, 0.6 being the velocity of AB. (1) Keep in mind that Einstein had no awareness of this superimposition onto the universal frame, and thus no awareness of these numerical values. (2) Using this convention (the assignment of tA - tB = tB - t'A) amounts to a disregard of an analytical incorporation of an absolute frame of reference. It is in keeping with Einstein's notion of simultaneity, wherein he elevates a direct observation of distant events to a pseudo-reality of simultaneity, or lack thereof, for a given observer. 1. See the appendix for my (quite long) formal derivation of this. 2. This superimposition diagram is unique to Relativity Trail. You won't find it elsewhere. © 2008 Roger Luebeck Updated 05/12/2025 See site map for all my articles. Home: relativitytrail.com