Open AccessLight Propagation on a Moving Closed Contour and the Role of Simultaneity in Special Relativity
Author(s) -
Gianfranco Spavieri
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of applied physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2684-4451
DOI - 10.24018/ejphysics.2021.3.4.99
Subject(s) - simultaneity , section (typography) , special relativity , contour line , theory of relativity , classical mechanics , mathematical analysis , computer science , mathematics , physics , geometry , meteorology , operating system
We consider an example of a moving closed contour and the role played by simultaneity in the description of light propagation on the contour's moving sections. We show that, when constrained to propagate along the contour, the local speed of light on a moving section is no longer arbitrary and a consistent description requires conservation of simultaneity.