Motion, inertia and special relativity—a novel perspective

Abstract

A recent paper by the author proposes that the phenomenon of inertia may be explained if the four metrical coefficients in the Minkowskian line element were to change as a consequence of acceleration. A certain scale factor multiplying the four metrical coefficients was found, which depends solely on velocity. This dynamic scale factor, which is [1 − (v/c) 2 )], models inertia as a gravitational-type phenomenon. With this metric the geodesic of general relativity is an identity, and all accelerating trajectories are geodesics. This paper shows that the same scale factor also agrees with special relativity, but offers a new perspective. A new kind of dynamic process involving four-dimensional scale transition is proposed.

Inertia and a fifth dimension—special relativity from a new perspective

“…Three recent articles (Masreliez 2006b(Masreliez , 2007a(Masreliez , 2008 suggest that inertia may be modeled by a dynamic scale factor. In investigating this possibility we find that a particular scale factor exists, with the interesting property that when it acts on the Minkowskian line element as in (2.2) all accelerating motion will take place on spacetime geodesics.…”

“…Four recent articles introduce and investigate a new semidiscrete physical process involving dynamic adjustments of the metrics of the line element of general relativity (GR) (Masreliez 2006b(Masreliez , 2007a(Masreliez , 2007b(Masreliez , 2008. By this new process denoted Dynamic Incremental Scale Transition (DIST) all metrical coefficients in the line element of GR change semiincrementally, which will not alter Einstein's field equations of GR, since spacetime geometries differing by a constant four-dimensional (4D) scale factor are physically equivalent.…”

Does Cosmological Scale Expansion Explain the Universe?

“…Furthermore, the SEC theory tells us what is causing the progression of time and provides the missing connection between General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Theory (QT) (Masreliez 2005). It is proposes the existence of a new type process involving a dynamic spacetime scale, which also may explain the origin of the inertial force (Masreliez (2006a); Masreliez (2007a); Masreliez (2008)). The SEC is a stunningly simple model that explains the cosmos as we experience it!…”

“…This 'inertial scale-factor', which is 1-(v/c) 2 , would explain Inertia as a gravitational-type phenomenon. This suggests that the semi-continuous process that models the cosmological expansion also applies to acceleration in space; it could model Inertia while preserving the Minkowskian line-element in inertial frames (Masreliez (2006a); Masreliez (2007a); Masreliez (2007b); Masreliez (2008)).…”

On Helmholtz–Hodge decomposition of inertia on a discrete local frame of reference

“…The concept of the Galilean frame of reference and that of inertia are well established in the context of modern mechanics and have not attracted much attention for many decades. However, their deep meanings are still, and rightly, discussed by science historians [17,15,16]. The concepts developed here would allow us to revisit certain physical phenomena such as turbulence, where rotation and incessant changes in the trajectory of the fluid play decisive roles in energy transfers between vortices.…”