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An electromagnetic way to derive basic relativistic transformations

Authors :
Wu, Congjun
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

We derive the relativistic velocity addition law, the transformations of electromagnetic fields and space-time intervals by examining the drift velocities in a crossed electromagnetic field configuration. The postulate of the light velocity invariance is not taken as a priori, but is derived as the universal upper limit of physical drift velocities. The key is that a physical drift of either an electric charge or a magnetic charge remains a drift motion by inertial reference frame transformations. Such a simple fact is incompatible with the Galilean velocity addition. This derivation provides a way to introduce relativity via elementary electromagnetism.

Subjects

Subjects :
Physics - General Physics

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2209.07466
Document Type :
Working Paper