•Does every assertion make sense: Obviously not . Even if we take some words and link them together in strict accordance with the rules of grammar , the result may be complete nonsense . There is no sense whatsoever ,for example , in the assertion that “water is triangular”. However , not all nonsense is so obvious . All too often an assertion which appears quite reasonable at first glance turns out to be absolute nonsense under closer scrutiny.
Right or left: On what side of the street-right or left-is the house ? You cannot possibly answer this question offhand. If you go from the bridge towards the woods , it will be on your left-hand side , and if you go in the opposite direction , it will be on your right hand side . Speaking of the left-or right hand side of a street you must mention the relative direction.
Who is bigger??.....Consider a cow and a cowherd separated by a definite distance . When viewed from near the cowherd , the cow seems to be smaller in size. But when viewed from near the cow , the cowherd seems to be smaller in size . As the two cases are viewed from different points-one closer to the cowherd and the other closer to the cow , it is not the true dimensions of an object that are essential for analysis , but the angle from which they are viewed from . And these angular dimensions of the objects are quite obviously relative . It is senseless to speak about angular dimensions of the objects unless the latter are pinpointed in space . For instance , there is no sense in saying that a tower is seen from an angle of 45 degree .But if you say that a tower of 15metres away from you is seen at an angle of 45 degree , that is quite reasonable . It follows , moreover , that the tower is 15metres high.
The relative appears absolute: If we shift our point of view of observation slightly , the angular dimensions are often used in astronomy . Stellar maps are supplied with angular distances between the stars , i.e., the angles at which the distance between the stars is seen from the Earth. Regardless of our movements on the Earth , and regardless of our point of observation , we shall always see the stars at one and the same distance from each other . This is due to the tremendous , inconceivably great distances that separate us from the stars .compared to them our movement on earth from point to point is so insignificant that we may easily disregard it . Therefore , in this case angular distances may be accepted as absolute distances .
If we shift our point of view of observation slightly , the angular dimensions are often used in astronomy . Stellar maps are supplied with angular distances between the stars , i.e., the angles at which the distance between the stars is seen from the Earth. Regardless of our movements on the Earth , and regardless of our point of observation , we shall always see the stars at one and the same distance from each other . This is due to the tremendous , inconceivably great distances that separate us from the stars .compared to them our movement on earth from point to point is so insignificant that we may easily disregard it . Therefore , in this case angular distances may be accepted as absolute distances . The absolute turns out to be relative:We often say “up” and “down” . Are these notions absolute or relative ? At different times people gave different answers to this question . When people did not know that our Earth was round and imagined it to be as flat as a pancake , the vertical direction was regarded as an absolute concept . It was assumed that the vertical direction was one and the same at all points of the Earth’s surface and that it was quite normal to speak of absolute “up” and the absolute ”down”. When it was discovered that Earth was round , the notion “vertical” collapsed. Indeed , the Earth being round , the direction of a vertical line depends essentially on the position of the point on the Earth’s surface through which that line passes. At different points of the globe the vertical direction will be different. Since the notions of “up” and “ down” thus lost sense , unless the exact point on earth is specified , the absolute became relative.
“Common sense” protests: All this appears obvious to us today and we do not doubt it in the least . Nevertheless , we know from history that it has not been easy for man to realize the relativity of “up” and ”down” . People are inclined to ascribe absolute sense to concepts if their relativity is not evident from everyday experience. Let us recall the absurd objection to the fact that the Earth was round , which came down to us from the middle ages: how can people walk upside-down ….?! If we did not recognize the relativity of the vertical direction and took it to be absolute in Moscow , for example , then , naturally , people in New Zealand would be walking upside-down . But bear in mind that for New Zealanders muscovites , too , are walking upside-down . There is no contradiction in that at all , since the vertical direction is not really an absolute concept , but a relative one. We begin to feel the true meaning of the relativity of vertical directions only when we consider two points sufficiently far apart on the Earth’s surface-Moscow and New Zealand , for example. But when we take two points close to each other , then we are justified with the absolute concept.
The Tragedy of light: • Light does not propagate instantaneously We have convinced ourselves of the principle of the relativity of motion and of the existence of a countless number of “inertial frames” . However , there exists a kind of motion which , at first glance contradicts the principle we have established above . It is the propagation of light.
Principle of relativity of motion seems to be shaken!!:: The colossal but not infinite velocity of light in vacuum brings us into conflict with the principle of relativity of motion. Imagine a train hurtling along a tremendous speed of 240,000km/sec . We are riding in the head carriage , and an electric bulb is switched on in the tail carriage . Let us see what results we would get if we measured the time necessary for light to travel from one end of the train to the other.
It would seem that this would differ from the one we would obtain if the train were at rest . Indeed , relative to a train moving at 240,000km/sec the light should travel at a speed of only
300,000 – 240,000=60,000km/sec . It is as if the light has to catch up with the head carriage . If we place the bulb at the head of the train and measure the time necessary for the light to reach the tail carriage , it would seem that its velocity in the direction opposite to the movement of the train should be 240,000 + 300,000 = 540,000km/sec . The light and the tail carriage move towards each other.
Thus , it appears that in a moving train light should propagate at different velocities in different directions , while in a train which is at standstill the velocity of light is the same in both directions...
Boarding a train….
Imagine a train 5,400,000km long moving with a uniform velocity of 240,000km/sec along a straight line.§ Suppose a lamp is switched on at some instant of time somewhere in the middle of the train . And suppose the automatic doors in the front and rear of the train carriages open the moment the light of the bulb reaches them . What will the people on board the train and those standing on the station platform see??§ The people in the middle of the train will see the following: as light travels relative to the train at the same velocity in all directions300,000km/sec , it will reach the rear and front carriages simultaneously , 9 seconds later (2,700,000:300,000) and both doors will open at the same time. Relative to the station platform the light also travels at the speed of 300,000km/sec , but the rear carriage moves to meet the light beam . Therefore , the beam of light will reach rear carriage after ,2,700,000/(300,000+240,000)i.e., 5 seconds . The beam . The beam must catch up with the front carriage and , therefore , will reach it 45 seconds later , 2,700,000/ (300,000-240,000). It will seem to the people on the platform that the doors open at different times-the rear door first and the front door 45-5=40 seconds later. Thus , two absolutely identical events-opening of the front and rear doors of the train-will happen at the same time for the people onboard the train and with a 40-second interval for those on the platform. .....
Right or left: On what side of the street-right or left-is the house ? You cannot possibly answer this question offhand. If you go from the bridge towards the woods , it will be on your left-hand side , and if you go in the opposite direction , it will be on your right hand side . Speaking of the left-or right hand side of a street you must mention the relative direction.
Who is bigger??.....Consider a cow and a cowherd separated by a definite distance . When viewed from near the cowherd , the cow seems to be smaller in size. But when viewed from near the cow , the cowherd seems to be smaller in size . As the two cases are viewed from different points-one closer to the cowherd and the other closer to the cow , it is not the true dimensions of an object that are essential for analysis , but the angle from which they are viewed from . And these angular dimensions of the objects are quite obviously relative . It is senseless to speak about angular dimensions of the objects unless the latter are pinpointed in space . For instance , there is no sense in saying that a tower is seen from an angle of 45 degree .But if you say that a tower of 15metres away from you is seen at an angle of 45 degree , that is quite reasonable . It follows , moreover , that the tower is 15metres high.
The relative appears absolute: If we shift our point of view of observation slightly , the angular dimensions are often used in astronomy . Stellar maps are supplied with angular distances between the stars , i.e., the angles at which the distance between the stars is seen from the Earth. Regardless of our movements on the Earth , and regardless of our point of observation , we shall always see the stars at one and the same distance from each other . This is due to the tremendous , inconceivably great distances that separate us from the stars .compared to them our movement on earth from point to point is so insignificant that we may easily disregard it . Therefore , in this case angular distances may be accepted as absolute distances .
If we shift our point of view of observation slightly , the angular dimensions are often used in astronomy . Stellar maps are supplied with angular distances between the stars , i.e., the angles at which the distance between the stars is seen from the Earth. Regardless of our movements on the Earth , and regardless of our point of observation , we shall always see the stars at one and the same distance from each other . This is due to the tremendous , inconceivably great distances that separate us from the stars .compared to them our movement on earth from point to point is so insignificant that we may easily disregard it . Therefore , in this case angular distances may be accepted as absolute distances . The absolute turns out to be relative:We often say “up” and “down” . Are these notions absolute or relative ? At different times people gave different answers to this question . When people did not know that our Earth was round and imagined it to be as flat as a pancake , the vertical direction was regarded as an absolute concept . It was assumed that the vertical direction was one and the same at all points of the Earth’s surface and that it was quite normal to speak of absolute “up” and the absolute ”down”. When it was discovered that Earth was round , the notion “vertical” collapsed. Indeed , the Earth being round , the direction of a vertical line depends essentially on the position of the point on the Earth’s surface through which that line passes. At different points of the globe the vertical direction will be different. Since the notions of “up” and “ down” thus lost sense , unless the exact point on earth is specified , the absolute became relative.
“Common sense” protests: All this appears obvious to us today and we do not doubt it in the least . Nevertheless , we know from history that it has not been easy for man to realize the relativity of “up” and ”down” . People are inclined to ascribe absolute sense to concepts if their relativity is not evident from everyday experience. Let us recall the absurd objection to the fact that the Earth was round , which came down to us from the middle ages: how can people walk upside-down ….?! If we did not recognize the relativity of the vertical direction and took it to be absolute in Moscow , for example , then , naturally , people in New Zealand would be walking upside-down . But bear in mind that for New Zealanders muscovites , too , are walking upside-down . There is no contradiction in that at all , since the vertical direction is not really an absolute concept , but a relative one. We begin to feel the true meaning of the relativity of vertical directions only when we consider two points sufficiently far apart on the Earth’s surface-Moscow and New Zealand , for example. But when we take two points close to each other , then we are justified with the absolute concept.
The Tragedy of light: • Light does not propagate instantaneously We have convinced ourselves of the principle of the relativity of motion and of the existence of a countless number of “inertial frames” . However , there exists a kind of motion which , at first glance contradicts the principle we have established above . It is the propagation of light.
Principle of relativity of motion seems to be shaken!!:: The colossal but not infinite velocity of light in vacuum brings us into conflict with the principle of relativity of motion. Imagine a train hurtling along a tremendous speed of 240,000km/sec . We are riding in the head carriage , and an electric bulb is switched on in the tail carriage . Let us see what results we would get if we measured the time necessary for light to travel from one end of the train to the other.
It would seem that this would differ from the one we would obtain if the train were at rest . Indeed , relative to a train moving at 240,000km/sec the light should travel at a speed of only
300,000 – 240,000=60,000km/sec . It is as if the light has to catch up with the head carriage . If we place the bulb at the head of the train and measure the time necessary for the light to reach the tail carriage , it would seem that its velocity in the direction opposite to the movement of the train should be 240,000 + 300,000 = 540,000km/sec . The light and the tail carriage move towards each other.
Thus , it appears that in a moving train light should propagate at different velocities in different directions , while in a train which is at standstill the velocity of light is the same in both directions...
Boarding a train….
Imagine a train 5,400,000km long moving with a uniform velocity of 240,000km/sec along a straight line.§ Suppose a lamp is switched on at some instant of time somewhere in the middle of the train . And suppose the automatic doors in the front and rear of the train carriages open the moment the light of the bulb reaches them . What will the people on board the train and those standing on the station platform see??§ The people in the middle of the train will see the following: as light travels relative to the train at the same velocity in all directions300,000km/sec , it will reach the rear and front carriages simultaneously , 9 seconds later (2,700,000:300,000) and both doors will open at the same time. Relative to the station platform the light also travels at the speed of 300,000km/sec , but the rear carriage moves to meet the light beam . Therefore , the beam of light will reach rear carriage after ,2,700,000/(300,000+240,000)i.e., 5 seconds . The beam . The beam must catch up with the front carriage and , therefore , will reach it 45 seconds later , 2,700,000/ (300,000-240,000). It will seem to the people on the platform that the doors open at different times-the rear door first and the front door 45-5=40 seconds later. Thus , two absolutely identical events-opening of the front and rear doors of the train-will happen at the same time for the people onboard the train and with a 40-second interval for those on the platform. .....
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