Michelson, FitzGerald and Lorentz: the origins of relativity revisited
Brown, Harvey R. (2003) Michelson, FitzGerald and Lorentz: the origins of relativity revisited.
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Abstract
It is argued that an unheralded moment marking the beginnings of relativity theory occurred in 1889, when G. F. FitzGerald, no
doubt with the puzzling 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment fresh in mind, wrote to Heaviside about the possible effects of motion on inter-molecular forces in bodies. Emphasis is placed on the difference between FitzGerald's and Lorentz's independent justifications of the shape distortion effect involved. Finally, the importance of the their `constructive' approach to kinematics---stripped of any commitment to the physicality of the ether--- will be defended, in the spirit of Pauli, Swann and Bell.
| Commentary on: | Brown, Harvey R (2001) The origins of length contraction: I. The FitzGerald-Lorentz deformation. |
|---|---|
| EPrint Type: | Other |
| Keywords: | relativity, FitzGerald, length contraction, Bell |
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences: Physics: Relativity Theory |
| ID Code: | 987 |
| Deposited By: | Brown, Harvey R |
| Deposited On: | 10 Febuary 2003 |
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