Relativity

THE EQUATIONS

Four new equations were basic to these thoughts:

• The first equation is that the speed of light is a universal constant, C, which is also equal to the product of the frequency and wave length of light (or other electromagnetic signal). The words frequency and wave length were derived to explain an invisible characteristic of light which is usually depicted as a sine wave. The number of units of length of one imagined sine wave is called 'wave length', and the number of those sine waves which are imagined to occur within one unit of time duration (one second) is referred to as the 'frequency' of light. As the frequency (or number of cycles or events) increases, it must follow that the wave length must decrease in direct proportion so that the factor C can remain constant.

• The second equation, attributed to Einstein, is   L/Lo = [(1-(V/C)^2]^0.5   where L is the number of units of relativistic distance which applies when an object is moving at the velocity V and Lo is the number of units of that same distance when an object has zero relative velocity. As V approaches C it must follow that the mathematical value of L approaches zero. But if that be true, then any further increase in V must be impossible. On the other hand, for low values of V/C the value of L remains essentually unchanged, so the rules of classical science can still be assummed to be true for all practical purposes.

• The third equation, also attributed to Einstein is   E=MoC^2   where E is energy, Mo is the 'inertial mass' of an object having zero relative velocity, and C is the new universal constant for the 'speed of light'. Since C is assummed to be constant, it must follow that the value of Mo must change (then the o subscript is ommitted) and must be directly proportional to E.

• The fourth equation, attributed to Planck, is   E=hf   where E is energy, f is the frequency of light (or electromagnetic radiation), and h is still another new universal constant (called 'Planck's Constant) pertaining to the energy and momentum associated with one quantum.   Planck's equation demands that the dimensional characteristics which define the word 'energy' can only be satisfied if the factor h is assumed to have the dimensional properties of the product of energy and time - one of the few combinations of dimensional factors which seem to remain unamed by scientists.

Since none of the above postulates made a lot of common sense, it was all stated in terms of new theoretical mathematical equations which by definition (rather than common sense) matched the new assumptions.

Unfortunately, no accepted scientific authority dared to directly challenge the prior assumptions in man�s initial erroneous definitions and rules of time, space, motion, and mass which had been dogmatically accepted and passed down from the time of Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton. The approach was to simply advise that the old �classical� rules continued to adequately apply until very high �relativistic� velocities were imagined. And when those relativistic velocities were postulated, a whole new form of �modern� physics associated with relativity simply superseded the old �classical� concepts.

compounding problems

Having moved from experimental demonstrations into a realm of imaginary mathematics, most of the scientific activity subsequently has centered around �adjustments� to the currently accepted equations whenever some new discrepancy is discovered between the reality of observation and the contemporary imaginary equations of the moment. Needless to say, the equations continue to evolve, and have become extremely complex in recent years. Many have become so complex that only a very few highly educated scholars even attempt to understand them, and most of those scholars dare not even suggest that there seems to be little connection between the current mathematical equations and the reality of the universe man can perceive.

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