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

From: Harry (harald.vanlintel_at_epfl.ch)
Date: 08/12/04 

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 12:55:52 +0200

"Benno Muilwyk" <benno@muilwijk-met-wyk.nl> wrote in message
news:411a9822_1@news3.prserv.net...
>
> "Harry" <harald.vanlintel@epfl.ch> schreef in bericht
> news:3bff5641.0408080700.28a5be7f@posting.google.com...
> > Andrew Dabrowski <dabrowsa@indiana.edu> wrote in message
> news:<4115DDDA.1030307@indiana.edu>...
> >
> > As a logician, 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? Thus
> > what do you think of the relativity of logical truth? Thanks in
> > advance!
> >
> > Harald
>
> This is comparable to the following situation:
> A and B are both driving a car. They started from the same point at the
> same time at the same constant speed, but in different directions. Not
> opposite directions, but rather at a sharp angle, e.g. like this:
>
> A B
> | /
> | /
> | /
> |/
>
> Although A and B are both travelling with the same speed, each will
observe
> that the other is staying behind. What's so strange about that?
>
> Benno

It's often a question of definitions and references. As I see your
illustration, it depends where one wants to go, and what the end result is!
In this case, if they are traveling at the same speed, and they started
together and travel the same path lenght between the same two points, then
they will agree that they both traveled at the same speed if they arrive at
the same time. They will take into account that each made a mesurement error
about the progress of the other due to their own deviation. But if one moves
on a straight path and the other on a curved path:

A __/\__
B______

while the one on the curved path ignores its own deviation, the truth about
who took the curved path comes out when they meet. For this case it is
incorrect to state that the angles A chose didn't affect its progress.
It's certainly erroneous to claim that the angle we choose DOES NOT affect
our own progress AND that the angle someone else chooses DOES affect the
progress of the other.

Harald