Abstract

Imagine two objects, A and B, in rectilinear motion past one another. Imagine that B has a nice big ?X? marked on it. Now applying the equations of Special Relativity, how much time should it take for A to pass by the spot X marked on B, as measured by a stop watch carried on board A? Special Relativity requires that this time be calculated using the Lorentz transformation. And the Lorentz transformation requires that the stop watch should show a lesser time for this event if it is calculated under the assumption that A is moving and B is stationary, than it would if the time were calculated under the assumption that B is moving and A is stationary. Thus the Lorentz transformation requires the readings on the stop watch to be calculated to be different, depending on whether A is assumed to be moving or stationary. The Principle of Relativity, however, which affirms that there is no such thing as absolute rectilinear motion, requires that there be no way to tell which one of the two, A or B, is moving. Therefore the Principle of Relativity requires that the times are calculated to be the same, no matter whether it is assumed that A is moving and B is stationary, or that B is moving and A is stationary. But of course it is impossible, both logically and mathematically, for a single mathematical problem to have both the same and different answers. (Heck, even my twelve-year-old younger son can grasp this!) So the Theory of Special Relativity must be logically as well as mathematically flawed, and we, along with my twelve-year-old, can all see that the Emperor Albert has no clothes on.