Relativity and the Nature of Spacetime (eBook)

Presently: Assistant Professor, Science College, Concordia University (in fact, I am associated with three departments - Liberal Arts College, Philosophy Department, and Science College)1984 -1989: Adjunct Professor, Philosophy Department, Sofia University1986 -1989: Researcher, Institute of Philosophy, Bulgarian Academy of SciencesDoctoral degrees in theoretical physics (1997, Concordia University) and philosophy of science (1988, Institute of Philosophy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences).

Preface 7
Preface to the First Edition 9
Contents 11
Introduction 14
Part I From Galileo to Minkowski 23
On the Impossibility of Detecting Uniform Motion 25
Aristotle's View on Motion 26
Copernicus and Ptolemy's ArgumentsAgainst the Earth's Motion 28
Galileo's Disproof of Aristotle's View on Motion 29
Galileo's Principle of Relativity 36
Exploring the Internal Logicof Galileo's Principle of Relativity 38
On the Physical Meaning of Galileo's Principle of Relativity 39
On the Two Postulates of Special Relativity 58
A Lesson from a Delayed Discovery 60
Summary 61
Relativity in Euclidean Space and in Spacetime 63
Spacetime 64
Derivation of the Lorentz Transformations 78
Four-Dimensional Distance and Three Kinds of Length 85
Y `Dilation' in Euclidean Spaceand Time Dilation in Spacetime 91
Length Contraction in Euclidean Space and in Spacetime 97
The Twin Paradox in Euclidean Space and in Spacetime 104
Addition of Velocities 111
The Metric of Spacetime 111
On Coordinate and Proper Time 112
Four-Velocity, Four-Momentum, and Relativistic Mass 119
Summary 124
Part II On the Nature of Spacetime: Conceptual and Philosophical Issues 125
Relativity and the Dimensionality of the World:Spacetime Is Real 128
Has Special Relativity Posedthe Greatest Intellectual Challenge to Humankind? 129
Relativity and Dimensionality of the World 130
Length Contraction 140
Time Dilation 150
Relativization of Existence and the Twin Paradox 153
Relativization of Existence and Observersin General Relativity 157
Summary 159
Why Is the Issue of the Nature of Spacetime So Important? 160
One-Way Velocity of Lightand Conventionality of Simultaneity 162
Temporal Becoming 169
Flow of Time and Consciousness 174
Free Will 179
Summary 181
Part III Implications of the Reality of Spacetime for Physics 183
Propagation of Light in Non-Inertial Reference Frames 188
Acceleration Is Absolute in Special and General Relativity 188
The Need for Two Average Velocities of Lightin Non-Inertial Reference Frames 190
Average Coordinate Velocity of Light 194
Average Proper Velocity of Light 198
Shapiro Time Delay 206
Probing the Anisotropic Velocity of Lightby a Terrestrial Experiment 209
On the Gravitational Redshift 212
The Sagnac Effect 221
Summary 224
Calculating the Electric Field of a Chargein a Non-Inertial Reference Frame 226
Calculating the Potential of a Chargein a Non-Inertial Reference Frame 226
Common Physical Origin of the Liénard--Wiechert Potentials and the Potentials of a Chargein a Non-Inertial Reference Frame 230
Calculating the Electric Field of a Chargein a Non-Inertial Reference Frame 237
Summary 241
Inertia as a Manifestation of the Reality of Spacetime 242
Are Inertial Forces Real? 243
Inertial Forces Originate from a Four-Dimensional Stress Arising in the Deformed Worldtubes of Non-Inertial Bodies 245
Electromagnetic Mass and Inertia of the Classical Electron 251
The Standard Model and Inertia 260
Summary 268
Spacetime and the Nature of Quantum Objects 270
Is Quantum Mechanical Probability Objective? 271
The Nature of the Quantum Objectand the Nature of Spacetime 273
Summary 280
Appendix A Quantum Mechanical ArgumentsAgainst the Reality of Spacetime 282
Appendix B The Nature of Spacetime and Validity of Scientific Theories 285
Reliability of Knowledge: Induction as Hidden Deduction 286
Correspondence Principleand Growth of Scientific Knowledge 290
Can an Accepted Scientific Theory Be Refuted? 294
Is a Final Scientific Theory Possible? 295
Summary 295
Appendix C Classical Electromagnetic Mass Theoryand the Arguments Against It 297
Appendix D Calculation of the Self-Force 301
References 305
Index 312