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physics

kevin52
in Astronomy and Cosmology

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Question from an amateur

 

Is the fact that the speed of light is independent of ots source just a fact of reality proven by observation or does relativity offer a reason for this fact.

Relativity doesn't explain why. It's an earlier observation from classical electromagnetism that was applied to mechanical motion, so it was taken as a postulate. For EM waves to satisfy the wave equation, they must have an invariant speed. Since radios, etc. work even when there is relative motion, the idea has a pretty solid basis.

  • 2 weeks later...

Question from an amateur

 

Is the fact that the speed of light is independent of ots source just a fact of reality proven by observation or does relativity offer a reason for this fact.

 

 

Rephrasing your question into: Is light emitted from a star travelling at half of c faster on one side and slower on the other? Dont think so. I remember reading an experiment to test this some years ago, the experiment showed no changes in light speed.

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