Elpub

Consideration is given to the properties expected for inertial systems, that is, objects which are not subject to unbalanced external forces. Isaacson points out correctly that Einstein based his version of relativity theory on the motion of such inertial systems. It is overlooked, however, in both his…

The history of the belief in the existence of elements from which all matter is formed begins more than two millennia ago with the writings of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Developments in the late 17th century pioneered by Robert Boyle led to the modern concept of elemental balance, according to which…

The method of uniform scaling of coordinates introduced by Schiff in 1960 is reviewed. It is shown that its application to the bending of light during solar eclipses assumes that the light rays travel in perfectly straight lines. It nonetheless obtains quantitatively the same angle of light deflection…

A number of the most often cited results of relativity theory deal with the relationships between energy, momentum and inertial mass. The history of how Einstein and Planck came to these conclusions is reviewed. It is pointed out that considerations of how the speed of light is affected by the motion…

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