SYNOPSIS
This web site deals with the problems created for 20th century physics by Einstein’s Relativity Theories.
One counter example, that demonstrates that two bodies in relative motion can have synchronized clocks, is sufficient to explode the contention that time is local and flows differently, and that clocks on two such bodies cannot be synchronized.
Here is where the Doppler effect plays the critical role. When two bodies approach each other and reach a minimum separation, after which they separate, the Doppler effect will reverse at the moment of closest approach. That is true for observers on both bodies, and the two clocks can be set to, say, 1 o’clock at that moment – which will be the same moment for both bodies without the need to communicate the event. Similarly when two bodies move away from each other, reach a maximum separation and then move towards each other, the Doppler effect again reverses at the moment of maximum separation. So now we have two moments in time when the clocks agree. The second moment can be given the name 2 o’clock. So we have well synchronized clocks for two bodies in relative motion.
As regards simultaneity: Einstein does not realize that there are two distinct and independent types of “simultaneity.” One type occurs when a single observer is aware of two distinct signals simultaneously, for example, hearing a doorbell and a siren at the same time. We can call this e-simultaneity, i.e. one observer, two events. The other type occurs when two observers become aware of one event at the same time, such as an explosion or an earthquake. We can call this o-simultaneity.
“Relativity” is true only for e-simultaneity. But it is the other type of simultaneity that is needed for his theory. In that case, the simultaneity is determined by the clock time, which must be the same for both observers, (o-simultaneity). They can infer that they noticed the event at the same time by comparing the readings of their watches – assuming these were synchronized in advance. The idea of relativity does not apply to this type of simultaneity.
As regards cosmology: One thing is clear. If the Type 1A supernovae come from stars created near the beginning of time, then the arithmetic which combines their lifetime before they explode (about 3 billion years) with the time until the light from the explosion reaches us (also about 3 billion years) gives us an estimate of the age of the universe of about 6 billion years. That is less than one-half of the 12 or 13 billion years that is currently believed. Current estimates of the age based on Hubble's Law, based in the end on relativity theory, cannot be reconciled with these numbers.
Regarding mass: If photons have substance then we can calculate their associated mass by using Planck's formula in combination with that of Einstein. For photons in the visible region, a frequency of about 1014 cycles per second, this turns out to be about 10-33 grams. We did not know in 1905 that an electron has a mass of about 10-27 grams. We know now that this would make the associated mass of such a photon about one millionth that of an electron. Gamma rays, having a million times greater frequency, would have about the same mass as electrons and positrons. When these collide no mass is lost.
