Related papers: Illustrating the relativity of simultaneity
In a way similar to classical mechanics where we have the concept of inertial time as expressed in the motions of bodies, in the (special) theory of relativity we can regard the inertial time as the only notion of time at play. The inertial…
This paper is an exploration of the nuanced realm of reference frames within the framework of General Relativity. Our analysis exposes a violation of Earman's SP1 principle in scenarios involving fields that are dynamically uncoupled, a…
In general relativity, the causal structure between events is dynamical, but it is definite and observer-independent; events are point-like and the membership of an event A in the future or past light-cone of an event B is an…
The description of relativistic effects requires a preliminary definition of events localised in space-time while the clocks used for time definition and the fields used in synchronisation or localisation procedures are necessarily quantum…
A closer look (with hindsight) at Newtonian and relativistic kinematics reveals two things. Not surprisingly, Newtonian time remains the empty and artificial - albeit useful - figment it is known to be. Quite unexpectedly however it turns…
A logic of reciprocity between inertial frames in relative uniform motion is investigated. Relativity allows any reference frame to apply Lorentz Transformation while reciprocity would require the relative frame to use Inverse…
In Minkowski spacetime, we consider an isolated system made of two pointlike bodies interacting at a distance, in the nonradiative approximation. Our framework is the covariant and a priori Hamiltonian formalism of "predictive relativistic…
A challenge in teaching about special relativity is that a number of the theory's effects are at odds with the intuition of classical physics, as well as student's everyday experience. The relativity of simultaneity, time dilation and…
Under the assumption of closed-path velocity of light invariant, we show both the general expression of velocity of light in an ordinary inertial reference frame and the generalized Lorentz transformation between the ordinary inertial…
We show how a suitably prepared set of clocks can be used to determine all components of the gravitational field in General Relativity. We call such an experimental setup a clock compass, in analogy to the usual gravitational compass.…
The theory of relativistic {\em location systems} is sketched. An interesting class of these systems is that of relativistic {\em positioning systems,} which consists in sets of four clocks broadcasting their proper time. Among them, the…
We present a phase-based formulation of special relativity in which the kinematical structure of the theory is reconstructed from the requirement of phase coherence of localized wave states. Starting from the assumption that physical…
In this paper we scrutinize the concept of locally inertial reference frames (LIRF) in Lorentzian and Riemann-Cartan spacetime structures. We present rigorous mathematical definitions for those objects, something that needs preliminary a…
Relative motion of particles is examined in the context of relational space-time. It is shown that de Broglie waves may be derived as a representation of the coordinate maps between the rest-frames of these particles. Energy and momentum…
Time is a parameter playing a central role in our most fundamental modelling of natural laws. Relativity theory shows that the comparison of times measured by different clocks depends on their relative motions and on the strength of the…
A relativistic positioning system is a physical realization of a coordinate system consisting in four clocks in arbitrary motion broadcasting their proper times. The basic elements of the relativistic positioning systems are presented in…
We take J. S. Bell's commendation of ``frame-dependent'' perspectives to the limit here, and consider motion on a ``map'' of landmarks and clocks fixed with respect to a single arbitrary inertial-reference frame. The metric equation…
A general relativistic description of a disk rotating at constant angular velocity is given. It is argued that conceptually this direct approach poses fewer problems than the special relativistic one. For observers on the disk, the geometry…
This paper proposes an abstract mathematical frame for describing some features of biological time. The key point is that usual physical (linear) representation of time is insufficient, in our view, for the understanding key phenomena of…
Dynamic equations of non-relativistic mechanics are written in covariant-coordinate form in terms of relative velocities and accelerations with respect to an arbitrary reference frame. The notions of the non-relativistic reference frame,…