Gamma factor between means

Consider the mean between two quantities: The arithmetic mean is The harmonic mean is where which equals the gamma factor of the Lorentz transformation. The geometric mean is Then the factor γ2 transforms a harmonic mean into an arithmetic mean: The inverse γ factor transforms an arithmetic mean into a geometric mean: so that The […]

Gamma factor between means Read More »

Derivation of the wave equation

The following is based on the “Derivation of the Wave Equation in Time” here with Faraday’s and Ampere-Maxwell’s laws completed for three dimensions of duration. With electric field e, electric displacement d, magnetic induction b, magnetic intensity h, current density j, length coordinates x, and duration coordinates z, these are as follows: and where the

Derivation of the wave equation Read More »

Motion from geometry to algebra

Geometrically, motion takes place in a three-dimensional Euclidean space with a one-dimensional parameter. Let σ be a position vector in the space and π be a value of the parameter. Then σ(π) represents the positions of a particle in motion with the parameter π and the position σ. There are two measures of the extent

Motion from geometry to algebra Read More »

Light clock in motion

This post builds on the post about the Michelson-Morley experiment here. Compare the light clock in the “Derivation of time dilation” (e.g., here). Linear Light Clock A linear light clock is a thought experiment in which a light beam reflects back and forth between two parallel mirrors that are a distance D apart (see figure

Light clock in motion Read More »

Dilation of time or distance

The common justification for time dilation in the special theory of relativity goes like this: (Sacamol, CC BY-SA 4.0) From Wikipedia: In the frame in which the clock is at rest (see left part of the diagram), the light pulse traces out a path of length 2L and the period of the clock is 2L divided by

Dilation of time or distance Read More »

Newtonian mechanics generalized

This post is based on Mathematical Aspects of Classical and Celestial Mechanics, Third Edition by Vladimir I. Arnold, Valery V. Kozlov, and Anatoly I. Neishtadt (Springer 2006). Here it is generalized to (3 + 3) dimensions. Motion takes place in two spaces that are three-dimensional and Euclidean with a fixed orientation. Denote them by E3

Newtonian mechanics generalized Read More »

Invariance of round-trip speed

The mean round-trip speed, as in simple harmonic motion, is Galilean invariant. There are two senses in which this is the case: (1) the time is the same in both directions, and (2) the distance covered is the same in both directions. In the first case, the mean round-trip speed equals the arithmetic mean of

Invariance of round-trip speed Read More »

Science and naturalism

The purpose of science is to discover laws, which are then applied to predict and explain phenomena, develop technology, and make things. This occurs through a cycle of material induction and formal deduction. Induction consists of making observations, defining terms, and proposing postulates. Deduction consists of taking the terms and definitions from induction, possibly with

Science and naturalism Read More »

Dual Euclidean transformations

Dual Euclidean transformations are required to transform six dimensions of length and duration: one Euclidean transformation for length space with time and one Euclidean transformation for duration space with distance. The two Euclidean transformations are: x′ = x − vt and z′ = z − ws where x and x′ are length space vectors, t

Dual Euclidean transformations Read More »