Re: Question: Lorenz' interpretation of SR v. Einstein's

From: Tom Roberts (tjroberts_at_lucent.com)
Date: 08/08/04 

Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2004 18:12:32 GMT

Harry wrote:
> what do you think of the Einsteinian concept that when
> A sees B moving, both A is right to say that its own clock is truly
> unaffected by speed but B's clock runs slow, *and* B to say that its
> own clock is truly unaffected by speed but A's clock runs slow?

You got it completely wrong. In SR, NEITHER clock is "affected by
speed", and NEITHER clock "runs slow". Instead, A says that B's clock
(moving relative to A) is OBSERVED BY A to display ticks slower than A's
clocks, and B says that A's clock (moving relative to B) is OBSERVED BY
B to display ticks slower than B's clocks. Note that this "observation
by A" involves multiple synchronized clocks and assistants comoving with
A; ditto for B. Here both A and B are moving inertially.

There is complete symmetry between A and B, and no logical contradiction
or problem.

In general, when discussing relativity one must use more precision in
thought and words than ordinary, beause of the subtleties of the
subject. Sound bites simply do not yield correct statements or conclusions.

Tom Roberts tjroberts@lucent.com

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