Skip to main content
Log in

Clocks and the Equivalence Principle

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Einstein’s equivalence principle has a number of problems, and it is often applied incorrectly. Clocks on the earth do not seem to be affected by the sun’s gravitational potential. The most commonly accepted reason given is a faulty application of the equivalence principle. While no valid reason is available within either the special or general theories of relativity, ether theories can provide a valid explanation. A clock bias of the correct magnitude and position dependence can convert the Selleri transformation of ether theories into an apparent Lorentz transformation, which gives rise to an apparent equivalence of inertial frames. The results indicate that the special theory is invalid and that only an apparent relativity exists.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • A. Einstein, On the influence of gravitation of the propagation of light, The Principle of Relativity, (Dover, New York, 1952), pp. 98–108. (Translated from Annalen der Physik 35, 1911).

  • C. M. Will (1986) Was Einstein Right? Basic Books New York

    Google Scholar 

  • R. R. Hatch (1999) ArticleTitle‘‘Gravitation: revising both Einstein and Newton’‘ Galilean Electrodyn. 10 IssueID4 69–75

    Google Scholar 

  • W. Pauli (1958) Theory of Relativity Dover New York 15 Occurrence Handle0101.43403

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • ibid, 145

  • B. Hoffmann (1961) ArticleTitle‘‘Noon–midnight redshift’‘ Phys. Rev. 121 IssueID1 337–342 Occurrence Handle1961PhRv..121..337H Occurrence Handle127936

    ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • N. Ashby and J. Spilker, Global Positioning System: Theory and Applications I. Parkinson and Spilker, ed. (AIAA, Washington, 1986), p. 686, Chap. 18.

  • N. Ashby B. Bartotti (1986) ArticleTitle‘‘Relativistic effects in local inertial frames’‘ Phys. Rev. D 34 2246–2258 Occurrence Handle1986PhRvD..34.2246A Occurrence Handle861066

    ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • C. Y. Lo (2002) ArticleTitle‘‘The existence of local Minkowski spaces is insufficient for Einstein’s equivalence principle’‘ Phys. Essays 15 IssueID3 303–321 Occurrence Handle10.4006/1.3025532 Occurrence Handle2036040

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • I. Ciufolini J. A. Wheeler (1995) Gravitation and Inertia University Press Princeton 14 Occurrence Handle0828.53069

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • M. Friedman, Foundations of Space–Time Theories 202 (University Press, Princeton, 1963), p. 202.

  • J. B. Thomas, ‘‘A relativistic analysis of clock synchronization’’, In Proceedings of the 6th Precise Time and Time Interval Planning and Management (Greenbelt, MD, 1974), pp. 425–439, 4 December.

  • C. M. Hill (1995) ArticleTitle‘‘Timekeeping and the speed of light: new insights from pulsar observations’‘ Galilean Electrodyn. 6 IssueID1 3–10 Occurrence Handle1995GalEl...6....3H

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Weinberg (1992) Dreams of a Final Theory Vintage New York 170–173

    Google Scholar 

  • R. R. Hatch (2001) ArticleTitle‘‘A modified Lorentz ether theory’‘ Infinite Energy 39 14–23

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Mansouri R. U. Sexl (1977) ArticleTitle‘‘A test theory of special relativity: I Simultaneity and clock synchronization’‘ Gen. Relat. Gravit. 8 IssueID7 497–513 Occurrence Handle1977GReGr...8..497M

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Selleri, ‘‘Space and time should be preferred to spacetime–-1’’, in Redshift and Gravitation in a Relativistic Universe. Rudnick, ed. (Aperion, Montreal, 2000), pp. 63–71.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronald R. Hatch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hatch, R.R. Clocks and the Equivalence Principle. Found Phys 34, 1725–1739 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-004-1313-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-004-1313-2

Keywords

Navigation