Chapter 3
On the Principles of Physics
“Transition to (c+v) (c-v) Mathematics in Electromagnetic Theory” in my book (Alice Law Version 8), I discussed “The Importance of the Principles of Physics”; however, I always thought that my explanation there was inadequate. This deficiency remained within me as a painful wound. Here, I wish first of all to remedy this deficiency.
Let us begin with the Galilean Principle of Relativity. Let us discuss how it arose and what it means.
3.1 – THE GALILEAN PRINCIPLE OF RELATIVITY AND ALBERT EINSTEIN’S TWO PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS
Galileo never wrote what we today call the Galilean Principle of Relativity as a one-line law. He presented it through the character Salviati in his work Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo (Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems), published in 1632.
Its most famous presentation is as follows (in an abridged and fluent Turkish adaptation based on the original text):
“Shut yourself up with a friend in the main cabin below decks on some large ship. Take with you flies, butterflies, and other small flying creatures. Keep a large bowl containing fish. Hang a bottle above so that drops of water fall into another narrow-necked vessel below.
While the ship is stationary, observe carefully. The small creatures fly with equal ease in every direction in the room. The fish swim with equal ease in every direction. The drops of water fall into the vessel directly below. When you throw an object to your friend, the same force is sufficient no matter which direction you throw it. Likewise, you can jump equal distances in every direction.
After observing all these things, let the ship begin to move with a uniform and smooth motion, whatever its speed may be.
Then you will not see even the slightest change in any of the events you observe. From these observations, you will not be able to tell whether the ship is moving or at rest.”
Galileo Galilei, Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo (1632).
Turkish translation: ChatGPT; adaptation: Han Erim.
The English text of Galileo’s ship account can be seen here:
Galileo, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
The principle derived from this text and used in textbooks today is as follows:
If a reference frame is in uniform linear motion, mechanical experiments performed within that frame cannot determine whether the frame is at rest or moving at a constant speed.
Or, more briefly:
Uniform linear motion cannot be detected absolutely.
Two important points emphasized by Galileo:
The motion must be constant.
Galileo specifically imposes the condition of “uniform and not fluctuating” motion—that is, uniform and smooth motion. This principle does not apply to an accelerating ship.
Experiments must be performed within a closed system.
The ship’s cabin is isolated from the outside world. If you cannot see outside (the shore, the sea, etc.), you cannot discern the motion. If you use an external reference, you can of course notice the motion.
This text later formed the basis of Newton’s Corollary V and, approximately three centuries later, Einstein’s Special Principle of Relativity. Einstein’s innovation was to extend Galileo’s principle not only to mechanics but to all laws of physics, including electromagnetism.
Einstein’s Principles of Physics
1. Einstein’s Principle of Relativity (English)
In 1919, Einstein expressed the principle very clearly in the following words:
"Every universal law of nature which is valid in relation to a coordinate system C, must also be valid, as it stands, in relation to a coordinate system C', which is in uniform translatory motion relatively to C."
Turkish translation:
“Every universal law of nature that is valid relative to a coordinate system C must also remain valid in the same form relative to a coordinate system C′ moving with uniform translational motion relative to C.”
In more fluent Turkish, we can also write it as follows:
"All laws of physics that are valid in one inertial reference frame are valid in the same form in all other inertial reference frames moving with uniform linear motion relative to it."
This is the standard form used in textbooks today.
At this stage, Albert Einstein’s Universal Speed of Light Principle must also be addressed.
2. Einstein’s Universal Speed of Light Principle (English)
"Light is always propagated in empty space with a definite velocity c which is independent of the state of motion of the emitting body."
Turkish translation:
"Universal Speed of Light: Light propagates through empty space at a definite speed c that is independent of the state of motion of the light source."
As is well known, these two principles formed the two fundamental pillars of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
Alice Law and the Galilean Principle of Relativity
Now I am carefully making the transition from here to Alice Law. First of all, I must say that Alice Law set out from the beginning on the basis of these two postulates of Albert Einstein. Although the Universal Speed of Light Postulate appears at first glance to conflict with the idea that
“Light travels toward its destination at speed c”, this depends on how the principle is interpreted. When we assume that every object has a space of its own—and an examination of the Law of Universal Gravitation will show this assumption to be highly probable; see Chapters 8 and 9—the apparent contradiction between these two propositions disappears, opening the way for (c+v) (c−v) mathematics and Alice Law in electromagnetic theory.
In fact, at the beginning I had only (c+v) (c−v) mathematics, and this mathematics told me that I had to interpret the postulate in this way. Therefore, this idea was not added to Alice Law later; it had been present in the mathematics from the beginning. But it took me decades to reach the point where I could express it with the clarity and certainty I have today. Twenty-five years have now passed. I now feel more at ease and can state my ideas openly and without hesitation. Believe me, sometimes this can be very difficult; at least it was so for me in the past.
Consequently, I believe that the Universal Speed of Light Principle could be updated in a manner more consistent with Alice Law as follows:
Universal Speed of Light: In empty space, light travels at the constant speed c relative to the reference frame of its destination, independently of the motion of the source that emits it.
Alice Law has never had any problem with the Principle of Relativity.
For Alice Law, Albert Einstein’s Principle of Relativity is as important as the Universal Speed of Light Principle. Believe me, without that principle you cannot do anything. In my view, it is impossible to construct a theory without it. When formulating the Principle of Relativity, Einstein based it on the equivalence of reference frames established by the Galilean Principle of Relativity for classical mechanics and extended this principle to encompass all laws of physics.
I must emphasize an important point here: In the later years of my work, I began to prefer and use the Galilean Principle of Relativity instead of the Principle of Relativity. The reason is that this name spontaneously evokes the “ship scenario” in the mind and makes reasoning easier. The difference is that, in Alice Law, the Galilean Principle of Relativity has been extended to include electromagnetic interaction. Thus, the Galilean Principle of Relativity in Alice Law has the same scope as Einstein’s Principle of Relativity.
Nevertheless, there is an important distinction: Both approaches accept the equivalence of reference frames; however, the Theory of Relativity expresses this equivalence through Lorentz transformations, whereas Alice Law expresses it through Galilean transformations.
In my work, I needed to use a short definition that described the Galilean Principle well. There is no original definition of the principle written by Galileo himself. Because there has been a great need in this regard, various researchers have expressed this principle in various ways. In essence, all of them actually say the same things. I once searched the internet for a definition to use in my work. I came across the definition below and copied it, but when I later searched for the text again, I could not find it. Therefore, I cannot provide a source. I use it because I like the definition.
Definition of the Galilean Principle of Relativity updated for Alice Law:
Galilean Principle of Relativity: The fundamental laws of physics are valid in the same form in all inertial reference frames moving at constant speed relative to one another.
The two principles written above form the theoretical foundation of Alice Law today.
Logical Consequences of the Galilean Principle of Relativity
At this stage, I wish to address here the logical consequences that can be derived from the Galilean Principle of Relativity. These logical consequences are truly very important, because they can be used to arrive at consistent assumptions in theoretical physics. I asked ChatGPT to write the section below, titled “Logical Consequences of the Galilean Principle of Relativity.” In my opinion, it produced a rather fine and well-organized text.
1. Absolute speed cannot be measured.
An observer cannot determine their absolute speed solely through mechanical experiments conducted within their own reference frame.
Explanation: Speed can be defined only relative to another reference frame. There is no quantity that can be measured on its own as a “true speed.”
2. Motion is relative.
Whether an object is moving can be stated only relative to another reference frame.
Explanation: The same object may be at rest relative to one observer and moving relative to another.
3. Uniform linear motion and rest cannot be distinguished mechanically.
Mechanical experiments conducted in a closed laboratory do not show whether the system is at rest or moving at a constant speed.
Explanation:
This is the fundamental conclusion of Galileo’s ship example.
4. The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames.
No inertial reference frame is privileged over another.
Explanation: A mechanical experiment conducted in one laboratory yields the same result in another laboratory moving under the same conditions.
5. Uniform linear motion cannot be felt.
An observer moving at constant speed in a closed system cannot physically feel their uniform linear motion.
Explanation:
What is felt is not speed but acceleration.
6. Acceleration can be determined through experiments performed within the system.
When a reference frame accelerates, an observer within the frame can determine this acceleration through local experiments without needing an external reference.
Explanation:
An accelerometer, a pendulum, felt vibrations, and inertial effects reveal that the system is accelerating. What is at issue here is proper acceleration, which can be measured locally. Therefore, the Galilean Principle of Relativity applies only to inertial reference frames.
7. Absolute rest cannot be demonstrated.
No mechanical experiment can yield the conclusion, “I am completely at rest relative to the universe.”
Explanation:
Rest, like motion, is relative.
8. All uniform linear motions are equivalent.
All inertial reference frames moving at different constant speeds are considered equal in terms of physics.
Explanation: Nature does not privilege one inertial frame over another.
9. An observer cannot determine the direction of their uniform linear motion.
An observer cannot determine the direction of their uniform linear motion solely through mechanical experiments conducted within a closed system.
Explanation: The direction of velocity, like its magnitude, acquires meaning only relative to another reference frame.
Who is moving, and who is at rest?
Let us consider the subject in terms of two objects.
Object A
Object B
Let there be a constant speed v between A and B.
According to the Galilean Principle, the following conclusions arise:
1. Relative to A
A is at rest.
B is moving at speed |v|.
This observation is entirely correct.
2. Relative to B
B is at rest.
A is moving at speed |v|.
This observation is also entirely correct.
3. Which one is actually moving?
According to the Galilean Principle, this question has no answer.
Because motion is not absolute but relative.
Therefore:
"In reality, A is moving."
"In reality, B is moving."
statements of this kind have no meaning in Galilean mechanics.
4. Which one is actually at rest?
This question also has no answer.
A is at rest in its own reference frame.
B is at rest in its own reference frame.
Both are correct from their own perspective.
5. Which one is faster?
This question is also incomplete.
The correct question is:
Relative to whom?
For example:
B’s speed relative to A = |v|
A’s speed relative to B = |v|
Both observations are correct.
6. Whose reference frame is correct?
The answer of the Galilean Principle:
Both are equally correct.
No inertial reference frame is superior to another.
7. If a mechanical experiment is performed
A performs an experiment in its own laboratory.
B performs the same experiment in its own laboratory.
Both obtain the same result.
Therefore, experiments cannot reveal which object is “actually” moving.
Galileo’s conclusion
All of this can be summarized in the following sentence:
For two inertial bodies, it is physically impossible to determine which is moving in an absolute sense and which is at rest in an absolute sense. Their motion can be defined only relative to each other.
An important point here
The comparison above considers only the relative motion between A and B. When a third reference frame is added to the comparison (for example, the Earth, the Sun, or distant stars), we can use statements such as “A is moving relative to the Earth” or “B is at rest relative to the Sun.” However, these statements are true relative to the selected reference frame; they still do not mean absolute motion or absolute rest.
This distinction constitutes the essence of the Galilean Principle and later also formed the basis of Einstein’s Principle of Relativity.
ChatGPT
***
I believe that if physics had a constitution, the Galilean Principle of Relativity would be its first article. I think that any theory contradicting this principle cannot be correct and therefore has no chance of surviving. Alice Law has entrusted itself entirely to this principle and obeys it without question. The Galilean Principle of Relativity is also the protector of Alice Law; it is its protective shield.
Establishing that the Galilean Principle of Relativity does not encompass electromagnetic interaction would bring the life of Alice Law to an end. On the other hand, experiments testing the fundamental claims of Alice Law are also extremely important experiments that will reveal whether the Galilean Principle of Relativity encompasses electromagnetic interaction. From this perspective, experiments testing Alice Law will rank among the most important experiments in the history of physics. With these experiments, you are testing not only Alice Law but also the validity, for electromagnetic interaction, of an exceptionally deep-rooted, very great, and perhaps the greatest principle of physics. This is no joke.