Speed of light

**Starblade Darksquall** · #1 August 1st 03 posted to sci.physics.research

(Pentcho Valev) wrote in message . com...
"Jon Lester" wrote in message ...

This may seems a rather simple question about relativity and, for some
parts, is covered in the physics FAQ. Anyhow, my point is to see if this
conceptual matter is covered somewhere in the literature.

The question is connected to the fact, that seems unavoidable, if one wants
to measure the speed of light, to use a closed path for the light. Do things
stay really this way? Is it a conceptual fact the need for a closed path or
one can devise a way to measure speed of light some other means with a
one-way path? Does any literature exist about also with experiments?

A suggestion. In the track-train
setup the experiment may look like that. There are two synchronized
(in the train frame) clocks at the front and back ends of the train. A
light beam emitted by a source in the track frame first reaches the
back end of the train and stops the clock there. A portion of the
light passes through a hole, goes the the front clock and stops it.
The difference between the two clocks' readings would allow the
passenger to determine the speed of light and see if it is
independent of the speed of the train.

Pentcho Valev

The speed of light will remain constant. The reason why in our point
of view - assuming we're at the station - the light from the front of
the train hits the back of the train in a shorter time than the light
from the back of the train hits the front of the train is because
simultaneity is relative. From the train's point of view time it takes
to go either direction is the same, and is equal to the distance
divided by the speed of light. From the station's point of view
however, it takes t = d/(c+v) to go from the front to the back and t =
d/(c-v) to go from the back to the front. This does NOT mean that the
speed of light is in any way altered. This has to do with timespace
being tilted, as I mentioned earlier.

I hope this helps you!

(...Starblade Riven Darksquall...)

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