The Block Universe from Special Relativity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Silberstein ◽  
W.M. Stuckey ◽  
Timothy McDevitt
Keyword(s):  
Special Relativity ◽  
Time Dilation ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
Philosophy Of Physics ◽  
Lorentz Transformations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Length Contraction ◽  
Foundations Of Physics ◽  
Main Thread ◽  
Block Universe

Before explaining how the God’s-eye view resolves the impasse of theoretical physics and foundations of physics created by the ant’s-eye view, the book presents a detailed argument for the block universe. Accordingly, the main thread of chapter 2 shows how the relativity of simultaneity resolves the paradoxes associated with time dilation and length contraction that result from special relativity. A short argument is then presented showing how the relativity of simultaneity implies a block universe, that is, the co-reality or co-existence of the past, present, and future. Philosophy of Physics for Chapter 2 provides a detailed argument for block universe, taking into account all counterarguments and assumptions of the abridged argument in the main thread. Foundational Physics for Chapter 2 shows how the second postulate of special relativity leads to time dilation and length contraction, and it contains the Lorentz transformations for the spacetime events used in the main thread.

Overture for Ants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Silberstein ◽  
W.M. Stuckey ◽  
Timothy McDevitt
Keyword(s):  
Nobel Laureate ◽  
Physical Reality ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
Philosophy Of Physics ◽  
Fundamental Physics ◽  
Physical Universe ◽  
Foundations Of Physics ◽  
Main Thread ◽  
Block Universe

This book addresses Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek’s challenge that “ascending from the ant’s-eye view to the God’s-eye view of physical reality is the most profound challenge for fundamental physics in the next 100 years”, by contesting the dynamical universe paradigm in its entirety. Most of the book is devoted to showing that given the adynamical block universe approach called Relational Blockworld, the current impasse of theoretical physics and philosophy/foundations of physics can be resolved, including the mystery of time as experienced and how that experience relates to the physical universe. This chapter sets the scene for the rest of the work, including defining its audience and sketching how each can read the work successfully. It describes the division of each chapter into three parts: a main thread, a thread devoted to the philosophy of physics, and a thread devoted to foundational physics.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Silberstein ◽  
W.M. Stuckey ◽  
Timothy McDevitt
Keyword(s):  
Physical Reality ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
Global Constraints ◽  
Least Action Principle ◽  
Least Action ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Least Action Principle ◽  
Foundations Of Physics ◽  
Block Universe

Chapter 1 contrasts dynamical explanation in the mechanical universe (Wilczek’s “ant’s-eye view of physical reality”) with adynamical explanation in the block universe (Wilczek’s “God’s-eye view of physical reality”). In the dynamical universe, explanation resides in fundamental laws that evolve initial states in time. Accordingly, the present is explained by the past alone. In the adynamical block universe, explanation resides in adynamical global constraints over spacetime such as the least action principle. Accordingly, the past and future are equally important in explaining the present. After introducing the impasse of theoretical physics and foundations of physics, the blame for that impasse is placed squarely with the ant’s-eye view. The chapter concludes with a brief preview of how the God’s-eye view can resolve the impasse of theoretical physics and foundations of physics created by the ant’s-eye view, including the mystery of time as experienced and how that experience relates to the block universe.

On the Experimental Proofs of Relativistic Length Contraction and Time Dilation

1998 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 977-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg D. Jefimenko
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Special Relativity ◽  
Time Dilation ◽  
Relativity Theory ◽  
Length Contraction ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Basic Equations ◽  
Special Relativity Theory ◽  
Relativistic Length

Abstract Recent advances in the theory of electromagnetic retardation have made it possible to derive the basic equations of the special relativity theory and to duplicate the most important practical results of this theory without using the concepts of relativistic length contraction and time dilation. Thus the reality of these concepts appears to be questionable. It is imperative therefore to reexamine the experimental evidence supporting these concepts. The calculations presented in this paper show that some of the experiments allegedly proving the reality of length contraction and time dilation can be unambiguously interpreted as manifestations of velocity-dependent dynamical interactions taking place within the systems involved in the experiments rather than as manifestations of length contraction or time dilation.

Beyond the Dynamical Universe

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Silberstein ◽  
W.M. Stuckey ◽  
Timothy McDevitt
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
Global Constraints ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Least Action Principle ◽  
Initial State ◽  
The Past ◽  
Foundations Of Physics

Theoretical physics and foundations of physics have not made much progress in the last few decades. There is no consensus among researchers on how to approach unifying general relativity and quantum field theory (quantum gravity), explaining so-called dark energy and dark matter (cosmology), or the interpretation and implications of quantum mechanics and relativity. In addition, both fields are deeply puzzled about various facets of time including, above all, time as experienced. This book argues that this impasse is the result of the “dynamical universe paradigm,” the idea that reality fundamentally comprises physical entities that evolve in time from some initial state according to dynamical laws. Thus, in the dynamical universe, the initial conditions plus the dynamical laws explain everything else going exclusively forward in time. In cosmology, for example, the initial conditions reside in the Big Bang and the dynamical law is supplied by general relativity. Accordingly, the present state of the universe is explained exclusively by its past. A completely new paradigm (called Relational Blockworld) is offered here whereby the past, present, and future co-determine each other via “adynamical global constraints,” such as the least action principle. Accordingly, the future is just as important for explaining the present as the past is. Most of the book is devoted to showing how Relational Blockworld resolves many of the current conundrums of both theoretical physics and foundations of physics, including the mystery of time as experienced and how that experience relates to the block universe.

scholarly journals Recovering the Principle of Relativity from the Cosmic Fabric Model of Space

2018 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. 1850011 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Tenev ◽  
M. F. Horstemeyer
Keyword(s):  
Reference Frames ◽  
Time Dilation ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Lorentz Transformations ◽  
Detection Experiment ◽  
Quantum Theories ◽  
Principle Of Relativity ◽  
Length Contraction ◽  
The Continuum ◽  
Negative Outcome

We extend the descriptive power of the Cosmic Fabric model of space developed by Tenev and Horstemeyer [Int. J. Mod. Phys. D 27 (2018) 1850083] to include moving observers by demonstrating that all reference frames are phenomenologically equivalent with one another and transform between each other via the Lorentz transformations. Our approach is similar to that of Lorentz [Versl. Kon. Akad. Wetensch 1 (1892) 74], which was used to explain the negative outcome of the Michelson–Morley æther detection experiment [A. A. Michelson and E. W. Morley, Am. J. Sci. s3–34 (1887) 333], except that we deduce the notions of length contraction and time dilation from the postulates of the Cosmic Fabric model. Our result is valid for the continuum length scale at which, by definition, the cosmic fabric can be described mathematically as a continuum. Herein, we also discuss the length scale-dependent nature of the Cosmic Fabric model as a possible way to relate gravitational and quantum theories.

An analogy between electromagnetic and internal waves

2019 ◽  
Vol 485 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-433
Author(s):  
V. G. Baydulov ◽  
P. A. Lesovskiy
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Conservation Laws ◽  
Internal Wave ◽  
Special Relativity ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Maxwell Equations ◽  
Wave Equations ◽  
Lagrange Function ◽  
Lorentz Transformations ◽  
Symmetry Transformations

For the symmetry group of internal-wave equations, the mechanical content of invariants and symmetry transformations is determined. The performed comparison makes it possible to construct expressions for analogs of momentum, angular momentum, energy, Lorentz transformations, and other characteristics of special relativity and electro-dynamics. The expressions for the Lagrange function are defined, and the conservation laws are derived. An analogy is drawn both in the case of the absence of sources and currents in the Maxwell equations and in their presence.

Relational Blockworld and Quantum Mechanics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Silberstein ◽  
W.M. Stuckey ◽  
Timothy McDevitt
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Measurement Problem ◽  
Quantum Nonlocality ◽  
Global Constraints ◽  
Quantum Superposition ◽  
Delayed Choice ◽  
Counterfactual Definiteness ◽  
Main Thread ◽  
Block Universe ◽  
Contextual Emergence

The main thread of chapter 4 introduces some of the major mysteries and interpretational issues of quantum mechanics (QM). These mysteries and issues include: quantum superposition, quantum nonlocality, Bell’s inequality, entanglement, delayed choice, the measurement problem, and the lack of counterfactual definiteness. All these mysteries and interpretational issues of QM result from dynamical explanation in the mechanical universe and are dispatched using the authors’ adynamical explanation in the block universe, called Relational Blockworld (RBW). A possible link between RBW and quantum information theory is provided. The metaphysical underpinnings of RBW, such as contextual emergence, spatiotemporal ontological contextuality, and adynamical global constraints, are provided in Philosophy of Physics for Chapter 4. That is also where RBW is situated with respect to retrocausal accounts and it is shown that RBW is a realist, psi-epistemic account of QM. All the relevant formalism for this chapter is provided in Foundational Physics for Chapter 4.

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