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Relativista Mechanics and Electrodynamics Without One-Way Velocity Assumptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Carlo Giannoni
Carlo Giannoni*
Affiliation:
Rice University
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Abstract

The Conventionality of Simultaneity espoused by Reichenbach, Grünbaum, Edwards, and Winnie is herein extended to mechanics and electrodynamics. The extension is seen to be a special case of a generally covariant formulation of physics, and therefore consistent with Special Relativity as the geometry of flat space-time. Many of the quantities of classical physics, such as mass, charge density, and force, are found to be synchronization dependent in this formulation and, therefore, in Reichenbach's terminology, “metrogenic.” The relationship of these quantities to 4-vectors and their physical significance is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 45 , Issue 1 , March 1978 , pp. 17 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1978

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Footnotes

†

I should like to thank the referee for his probing criticism of the original Sections 1,2, and 5. In order to respond to his criticisms I had to sharpen my position considerably, and the result is, I believe, a much more clearly defined stand on the issues involved.

References

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