Abstract

If absolutes are defined as quantities that remain constant independent of the dynamics due to the laws of nature then space and time may not be absolutes. The laws of nature, such as the thermodynamic laws, are differential equations that relate changes in space with changes in other variables. However, these laws require a limiting velocity that is independent of the force and prevents any force from accelerating something to velocities greater than this limiting velocity. This means that the natural laws require an absolute velocity and space and time are to be defined within this requirement. The special theory of relativity used arguments of synchronicity and light speed to specify how one must transform quantities from one coordinate system to another and uses these transforms to modify the laws to fit the transformations between inertial coordinate systems. The thermodynamic laws require that everyone see the same laws and the same absolute velocity thereby specifying the transformations between all coordinate systems regardless of any motion between the coordinate systems. The decades of writings and discussions concerning whether or not space or time are absolute and whether Einstein's constancy of light should hold, plus discussion of transformations have so confused the study of physics as to put the whole into a state of absolute confusion. This article hopes to present a way out of the confusion.