SR Postulate on Speed of Light



I am confused by the typical wording that one finds for the second
postulate of SR, namely that the speed of light is independent of the
motion of the source. The speed of any wave depends only on the medium,
so the motion of the source is not relevent. Consider a horn moving
through the air. It emits a sound wave. Once the wave leaves the horn,
its speed depends only on the properties of the air.

Now it's true that for someone traveling with the horn, the speed of
the sound would be greater in the forward direction than the backward
direction, but this has more to do with the speed of the OBSERVER
(relative to the medium).

I am more comfortable with an alternate statement of the second
postulate, namely that the speed of light is the same for all inertial
observers.

Are these two formulations of the second postulate equivalent?

.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: SR Postulate on Speed of Light
    ... > so the motion of the source is not relevent. ... It emits a sound wave. ... Once the wave leaves the horn, ... > postulate, namely that the speed of light is the same for all inertial ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR Postulate on Speed of Light
    ... postulate of SR, namely that the speed of light is independent of the motion of the source. ... The speed of any wave depends only on the medium, so the motion of the source is not relevent. ... When it is absorbed by an atom, it leaves its intrinsic energy behind. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR Postulate on Speed of Light
    ... Trouble is no medium has ever been found for EM waves. ... It emits a sound wave. ... Once the wave leaves the horn, ... > postulate, namely that the speed of light is the same for all inertial ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR Postulate on Speed of Light
    ... > so the motion of the source is not relevent. ... It's typical to find the second postulate of SR stated as follows: ... speed of ANY wave independent of the source? ... The alternative formulation that the speed of light is independent of ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR Postulate on Speed of Light
    ... > postulate of SR, namely that the speed of light is independent of the ... Consider a horn moving ... It emits a sound wave. ... Since we know physically that real changes do occur, ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)