Cosmic Space-Time: A Sequel to Special Relativity

by Colin Gordon

A theory of space and time is presented that is closely related to Special Relativity. That theory is now inconsistent with cosmological evidence. It is based on the assumption that there is no standard of rest to which motion can be referred, and that uniform motion is purely relative. We now know that the recession of distant galaxies and the microwave background radiation define a preferred frame of reference, a rest frame, in the universe. This new theory provides the necessary corrections to relativity by including such a frame as the central reference for all motion. It extends space-time theory, which is now restricted to uniform motion, to include accelerated observers moving in any manner by generalizing the invariance of the speed of light. Most of the physical properties of special relativity are preserved but the principle of relativity, that there is no rest frame and motion is purely relative, has to be rejected. A review of special relativity includes its basic postulates, its derivation and the points at which corrections are needed. Literature on the clock paradox and the experimental evidence for relativity theory is reviewed, and a special section is devoted to "time dilation".

Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2017