Natural Science Forum / Physics / Relativity / June 2005

Physics is the mathematical study of all conceivable universes. A
universe is a mathematical model that describes spacetime, matter,
energy and their interactions. Think of each model universe as
filling one page in the atlas of all possible universes.
"Philosophy is written in this grand book, the universe, ...  But
the book cannot be understood unless one first learns to comprehend
the language and read the characters in which it is written. It is
written in the language of mathematics." - Galileo Galilei.

Two universes are said to be isomorphic if every observable fact
about one universe is also true in the other. In two seemingly
distinct mathematical models, the equations describing each universe
might be vastly dissimilar, but if the math leads to identical
predictions, then the two universes are essentially the same
(isomorphic).

Consider this example. In one universe, a celebrated physicist
constructs what he calls a theory of relativity. The theory is based
on empirical observations yet a few skeptics don't see the need for
his implausible sounding rhetoric. The theory says trains get
smaller and smaller as they move away from train stations. Observers
at train stations do in fact see distant train tracks getting
narrower and narrower to accommodate the shrinking of distant
trains. But everything is relative. Passengers on moving trains can
think of themselves as stationary. They see receding train stations
getting smaller and smaller and the train tracks to them getting
narrower also. Approaching train stations get bigger and bigger.
Consistent mathematics can support this and all observations will
confirm each and every one of the predictions. Not surprisingly,
there is a parallel universe where different definitions are used
and a different philosophy is believed. In that parallel universe,
it is agreed that the lengths of objects can only be defined by
co-moving measuring rods. There, it is axiomatic that only local,
co-moving measurements of length express the actual truth about an
objective reality.

In Einstein's model of the theory of relativity, moving clocks run
slow and moving objects shrink in the direction of motion. Lucky for
you, I'm not going to have you learn an outdated and tortured way of
reasoning. I will not be repeating Einstein's rhetoric about
shrinking trains. It suffices to construct a universe where common
sense remains intact and also embodies all the true and factual
results of historic relativity theory.

By explicit construction of moving clocks in our new universe, it
will be obvious that moving clocks tick at the same rate as
stationary clocks. There is also a real desynchrony effect. If you
don't believe in modern physics, I advise that you try to follow the
reasoning of this paper line by line. That's the way our universe
really works.

The Lorentz transformation has always been perceived as a rule for
translating the perspective of one observer's sense of space and
time to the perspective of other observers in relative motion.
Forget about your faith in Hendrick A. Lorentz and Albert Einstein.
It's time to learn a conceptually simpler interpretation.

http://www.everythingimportant.org/relativity/