Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Universal One-Way Light Speed from a Universal Light Speed Over Closed Paths

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Letters

Abstract

This paper gives two complete and elementary proofs that if the speed of light over closed paths has a universal value c, then it is possible to synchronize clocks in such a way that the one-way speed of light is c. The first proof is an elementary version of a recent proof. The second provides high precision experimental evidence that it is possible to synchronize clocks in such a way that the one-way speed of light has a universal value. We also discuss an old incomplete proof by Weyl which is important from an historical perspective.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. R. Resnik, Introduction to Special Relativity (Wiley, New York, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  2. G. F. R. Ellis and R. M. Williams, Flat and Curved Space-Times 2nd edn. (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  3. A. P. French, Special Relativity (Chapman & Hall, London, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  4. R. W. Brehme, Am. J. Phys. 56, 811(1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. A. L. Macdonald, Am. J. Phys. 51, 795(1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. E. Minguzzi, Found. Phys. Lett. 15, 153(2002).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. H. Weyl, Raum, Zeit, Materie 7th edn. (Springer, New York, 1988), based on the 5th German edn. of 1923.

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Anderson, I. Vetharaniam, and G. E. Stedman, Phys. Rep. 295, 93(1998).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Janis, Conventionality of Simultaneity, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, fall 2002 edn., E. N. Zalta, ed.; http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2OO2/entries/spacetime-convensimul/.

  10. P. Wolf, S. Bize, A. Clairon, A. N. Luiten, G. Santarelli, and M. E. Tobar, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 060402(2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. W. M. Macek and D. T. M. Davis, Jr., Appl. Phys. Lett. 2, 67(1963).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. H. Erlichson, Am. J. Phys. 41, 1298(1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. G. E. Stedman, Am. J. Phys. 41, 1300(1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. H. Weyl, Space, Time, Matter (Dover, New York, 1952), based on the 4th German edn. (1921), translation by H. L. Brose.

    Google Scholar 

  15. C. Møller, The Theory of Relativity 2nd edn., (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1972), Sec. 2.2.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Ettore Minguzzi

  2. Department of Mathematics, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, 52101

    Alan Macdonald

Authors
  1. Ettore Minguzzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alan Macdonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Minguzzi, E., Macdonald, A. Universal One-Way Light Speed from a Universal Light Speed Over Closed Paths. Found Phys Lett 16, 593–604 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FOPL.0000012785.16203.52

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FOPL.0000012785.16203.52

Search

Navigation