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Deriving Special Relativity from A Moving Mirror Problem?

Authors: Ruggeri, Francesco R.;

Deriving Special Relativity from A Moving Mirror Problem?

Abstract

Traditionally (1) reflection of light from a mirror moving at a constant velocity is solved using Lorentz transformations (i.e. special relativity). One transforms the incident ray in the lab frame into a moving frame in which the mirror is stationary. One then uses angle of incidence equals angle of reflection and finally transforms back to the lab. Alternatively (2) this problem may be solved using Fermat’s principle to find a relationship between the angle of incidence and reflection in the lab and (3) wave principles to find a relationship between the incident and reflected momenta. (Alternatively one could bypass (3) and use conservation of momentum along the mirror surface.) In (4) we suggested that this problem may be solved by introducing a hypothetical velocity H. In (5) we showed how a hypothetical velocity approach which yields sin(A) 1/v(relative a) = sin(B) / v(relative b) (where A and B are incident and reflected angles in the lab) may be linked to special relativity through: v(relative a) ta (lab) = c ta (moving frame) . {We note that sin(A) = x/(c ta) where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and sin(B) = (L-x)/ (ctb) where L is the length of the mirror whose face is taken to lie along the x axis. } In this note we try to show that one may derive special relativity directly from the constantly moving mirror problem using the fundamental idea that c, the speed of light in a vacuum, is the same for the lab frame and moving frame. This is completely different from the idea of a Galilean transformation and suggests that perhaps time and distance values (y) may change in the moving frame. We suggest that one compare c t’a where t’a is the interval in the moving frame to the same distance computed without the notion of special relativity i.e. time intervals are the same in the lab and moving frame and one uses a relative speed in the moving frame not c. This equivalence defines t’a (time interval in the moving frame) in terms of v, ta and y in the lab frame thus partly leading to the form of the Lorentz matrix. There are still functions of v present and we calculate these by noting that -Et+px=0 for light because E=px. The Lorentz transformation is such that -E’t’+p’x’=0 as well so it is an invariant. From this one may calculate a lingering function of v. Furthermore we argue that this transformation also applies to particles with rest mass.

Keywords

moving mirror, derivation of special relativity

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This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
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