A Problem with Relativity - Questions

Velocity Addition
Imponderable Luminiferous Aether

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(A) The speed was not what they expected.
(B) It violated energy conservation.
(C) It seemed to violate velocity addition.
(D) They disbelieved the mathematics of the derivation.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(A) The speed was not what they expected.
No. --- Actually it was exactly what they expected.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(B) It violated energy conservation.
No. It did not.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(C) It seemed to violate velocity addition.
Yes. It meant that observes moving at different
speeds would see light moving at the same speed.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(D) They disbelieved the mathematics of the derivation.
No. There was never any serious question
about the derivation itself.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(A) the source of the light.
(B) any inertial reference frame.
(C) the observer of the light.
(D) the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(A) the source of the light. --- No.
Not if the source is moving
through the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(B) any inertial reference frame. --- No.
Only in frames at rest relative to the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(C) the observer of the light. --- No.
Not if the observer is moving
relative to the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(D) the aether. --- Yes.
The aether provided a
universal preferred reference frame.

A Problem with Relativity - Questions Velocity Addition Imponderable Luminiferous Aether

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(A) The speed was not what they expected. (B) It violated energy conservation. (C) It seemed to violate velocity addition. (D) They disbelieved the mathematics of the derivation.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(A) The speed was not what they expected. No. --- Actually it was exactly what they expected.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(B) It violated energy conservation. No. It did not.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(C) It seemed to violate velocity addition. Yes. It meant that observes moving at different speeds would see light moving at the same speed.

Maxwell's derivation of the speed of light from physical laws was a problem for his fellow scientists because

(D) They disbelieved the mathematics of the derivation. No. There was never any serious question about the derivation itself.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to (A) the source of the light. (B) any inertial reference frame. (C) the observer of the light. (D) the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to (A) the source of the light. --- No. Not if the source is moving through the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to (B) any inertial reference frame. --- No. Only in frames at rest relative to the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to (C) the observer of the light. --- No. Not if the observer is moving relative to the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to (D) the aether. --- Yes. The aether provided a universal preferred reference frame.

A Problem with Relativity - Questions

Velocity Addition
Imponderable Luminiferous Aether

(A) The speed was not what they expected.
(B) It violated energy conservation.
(C) It seemed to violate velocity addition.
(D) They disbelieved the mathematics of the derivation.

(A) The speed was not what they expected.
No. --- Actually it was exactly what they expected.

(B) It violated energy conservation.
No. It did not.

(C) It seemed to violate velocity addition.
Yes. It meant that observes moving at different
speeds would see light moving at the same speed.

(D) They disbelieved the mathematics of the derivation.
No. There was never any serious question
about the derivation itself.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(A) the source of the light.
(B) any inertial reference frame.
(C) the observer of the light.
(D) the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(A) the source of the light. --- No.
Not if the source is moving
through the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(B) any inertial reference frame. --- No.
Only in frames at rest relative to the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(C) the observer of the light. --- No.
Not if the observer is moving
relative to the aether.

In the aether theory of light, a pulse of light travels at 186,000 miles per second relative to
(D) the aether. --- Yes.
The aether provided a
universal preferred reference frame.