RelativityChallenge.Com

“I never could figure out how rods got shorter simply by travelling at higher velocities or how time (which doesn’t appear to be a “thing”) could actually dilate.  Your Episode #20 was excellent, showing the critical difference between length and rates.  So that’s it!  Those things don’t really happen.”
Glenn Borchardt, PhD

Odds are that you’ve arrived here because you either 1) are convinced that something is wrong with Einstein’s theory of Relativity and want to explore what that might be or 2) you believe that Special Relativity is right and want to know what people who disagree with his theory are saying.

Regardless of the reason that brought you here, I hope that as you explore the materials on the site you’ll learn something new. We cover a lot of material ranging from the specifics around Einstein’s mistake, to the introduction of an alternative model, to a review of some of the more well known scientific experiments related to Special Relativity.

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Episode 22 is the Failure of Einstein’s Spherical Wave Proof presentation that I delivered at the 17th Annual NPA Conference held at California State University, Long Beach on 23, June 2010.  It is essentially the “Director’s Cut” of Episode 21, and expands on that material.  It shows that Einstein’s Relativity Theory derivation fails because of the failure in the Spherical Wave Proof.  Specifically, this episode covers the following:

• Explains why the Spherical Wave Proof is The Essential Proof that established Relativity Theory
• Shows the failure of Einstein’s Spherical Wave Proof as a failure to develop a second sphere
• Identifies the belief that the proof passes as the result of a “False Positive”, or “Type I Error”
• Discusses implications of the failure on terms like Length Contraction, Space-Time Curvature, and Time Dilation

Viewers who have watched Episode 21 will find much of the material familiar.

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Title

The Failure of the Einstein-Lorentz Spherical Wave Proof
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Summary

This paper reveals a subtle, yet extremely significant oversight in Einstein’s Spherical Wave Proof. Once identified and corrected, it also shows that the proof fails, which means that Einstein cannot establish the relationship between the constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity.

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We have offered many mathematical and conceptual challenges to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. In Episode 21, we offer compelling evidence that Einstein’s Spherical Wave Proof fails. Without this proof, Einstein cannot establish a relationship between Relativity and the constancy of the speed of light; a cornerstone characteristic of the theory.

This Episode reexamines the key characteristics of a Sphere, and uses those characteristics to show why Einstein’s proof actually fails. The following specific points are covered in this video:

• A look at Einstein’s Spherical Wave Proof
• A look at the textual and mathematical requirements of a Sphere
• Review of Einstein’s work to show that his equations do not satisfy the requirements

In addition to the video, a PDF version of the presentation is available for download.
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“I live 20 miles per hour from the University.” Is that statement confusing?  It should be.  In Episode 20, we take a look at Rates and Functions, and discuss how they have been mistreated for the past century.  More importantly, we’ll take a look at how key concepts and mathematics can get confused if we don’t say the right thing.  For example, would you feel confused if I had began with “I live 20 miles from the University.”?  This Episode is a replay of a presentation that I delivered the Pacific Region AAAS conference at San Francisco State University in August 2009.

This Episode summarizes and synthesizes a lot of the material we’ve looked at over the past 9 videos.  New visitors will find that it serves as a good introduction to the material on the site.

The following specific points are covered in this video:

• A brief history of moving systems equations and SRT
• A look at the mathematical and conceptual mistakes we’re still making today
• Revisiting the improved results to the Michelson-Morley and Ives-Stillwell equations
• Implications on position-based navigation systems

In addition to the video, a PDF version of the presentation is available for download.
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Do you want to know what Time Dilation is and why Einstein needed it to make Relativity work? In Episode 19, we explain what things mean.   We’ll talk about the main concepts that are important for each moving system model – Newton, Lorentz, Einstein, and the CICS Model. After watching this episode, you should be able to explain the key concepts of Relativity such as Time Dilation and Length Contraction.  This knowledge is beneficial to both supporters of, and challengers to, Special Relativity.  We will explain why Einstein needed these terms for this theory to make sense and how they are based on an incomplete understanding of Transformations and Wavelength. And we’ll address why our modern understanding of Transformations and Wavelength, as incorporated into the CICS Model, results in a model that is free of Time Dilation and Length Contraction. This video ends with a comparison of the moving system models and where they differ conceptually from one another.

The following specific points are covered in this video

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Title

The Significance of Distinguishing Functions from Algebraic Equations
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Summary

This paper answers the question from a syntax perspective:  ”Why is the ‘t’ variable in Einstein’s Tau equation different than the ‘t’ variable in the x’=x-vt equation“?  In answering this question, the concepts of scope, namespaces, global variables, and local variables are introduced.

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Last year , a friend posted to his blog a brief excerpt of an NPR radio show which pitted a Special Relativity challenger against one of its supporters. During the introduction, the reporter mentioned a test developed by a UC Riverside mathematician. This test, The Crackpot Index , is a combination of satire and seriousness. In reality, it highlights a number of common pitfalls that are repeatedly made by those challenging the establishment. If you score too high on this test, you will be labeled a Crackpot.

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Many scientist critical of Special Relativity have challenged Einstein’s theory on the grounds of logical inconsistencies (e.g., challenges to the twin paradox or time dilation). While they offer compelling arguments, they have not found definitive evidence resulting in a crisis that the scientific community must respond to.

My challenge to the validity of Einstein’s equations is based on mathematics and a set of rules that the scientific community already accepts. This approach has the advantage of being readily verifiable by the greater scientific community.

Specifically, there are two main problems associated with Einstein’s SRT derivation.  As indicated in Episode 20, wavelength is commonly misstated as a measure (e.g., meters) when, in fact, it should be correctly stated as a rate (e.g., meters per cycle).  This is a significant conceptual and mathematical problem in Einstein’s work.

Readers familiar with namespaces and overloaded variables, and their relationship withfunctions, will find the second problem accurately addressed in Episode 17 of the Podcast Series – A Look at Einstein’s 1905 Derivation (Video).  Simply stated, Einstein mistreats the Tau function as if it were an equation. Readers without this background will find the algebra-based approach given in the Storrs Conference Presentation (Video), easier to follow. Interestingly, Einstein and Lorentz drop a Beta term in each of their respective derivations.  This point is also discussed briefly in Episode 17 of the Podcast series.

Title

A Brute-Force Mathematical Challenge to Special Relativity

Summary

This paper uses real values to illustrate the problem with Einstein’s 1905 derivation of the Xi (or X-axis) transformation equation. It also discusses the root cause of the problem and why it has been an illusive problem to uncover.

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