The logic of modern physicsBridgman, P. W. (Percy Williams)
Philosophy
The logic of modern physics
Bridgman, P. W. (Percy Williams)
Physics -- Philosophy
If either of these two alternative definitions of velocity were adopted,
it would be found that the velocity of light is infinite. Further, there
would be no limit to the velocity which can be imparted to material
bodies on giving them unlimited energy, which is what we are prepared to
regard from ordinary experience is natural and simple. The infinite
velocity for light, on the other hand, is most unnatural, particularly
if we favor a medium point of view. We are here faced with a
dilemma--all sorts of phenomena cannot at the same time be treated
simply. If we attach the most fundamental significance to the behavior
of material bodies, we shall do well to adopt one of the alternative
definitions of velocity. If, on the other hand, we regard the phenomena
of light as the most fundamental, we shall endeavor to form our
definition so that the properties of light are simple. This was
precisely the point of view of Einstein; it is characteristic of his
entire scheme of restricted relativity that light is the fundamental
thing, and this influenced him in adopting the first definition of
velocity. Now one can have no quarrel with this desire to make light
fundamental (the wisdom of doing this is to be justified by the
results), and if the properties of light are to be treated
mathematically, one can easily see the desirability of getting rid of
infinite attributes, and so admit the desirability of making the
velocity of light finite. But all this involves another very insidious
assumption which we ourselves have tacitly used in all our preceding
discussion, namely, that the notion of velocity properly pertains to
light at all. Einstein has very definitely adopted this point of view,
and so determined the character of the entire structure of relativity. I
believe, on the contrary, that it is very gravely to be questioned
whether the identification of light with a _thing travelling_, which is
involved in applying the velocity concept, should be made. This
discussion must be postponed, however, until we deal with the properties
of light. The important points for us to notice at present are that the
definition of velocity actually used involves the concept of extended
time, and that it would be possible to define velocity in different
ways, which would give quite a different complexion to phenomena at high
velocities, but which would leave untouched our ordinary experience.
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