Abstract
Equivalent transformations (ET) of space and time between inertial systems are obtained from two assumptions: (1) The two-way velocity of light is c in all inertial systems and in all directions; (2) Clock retardation takes place with the usual square-root factor for clocks moving with respect to a certain isotropical reference frame. The ET contain a free coefficient, e 1, reflecting the well-known synchronisation arbitrariness. The Lorentz transformations are recovered for a particular value of e 1. Many experiments are insensitive to the choice of e 1: Michelson type, aberration, occultations of Jupiter’s satellites, and radar ranging of planets. Accelerations break the equivalence in the set of ET. The example of two equally accelerating spaceships — originally discussed by John Bell for different purposes [1] — is used to show that absolute simultaneity gives the best description of physical reality.
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Selleri, F. (2002). Bell’s Spaceships and Special Relativity. In: Quantum [Un]speakables. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05032-3_29
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