Robinson's Podcast 237 - Tim Maudlin: A Masterclass on Special Relativity
Dec 8, 2024
Tim Maudlin, a Professor of Philosophy at NYU and the founder of the John Bell Institute, dives deep into Einstein's theory of special relativity. He dispels misconceptions about the ether and explores the distinction between absolute and relative space. The discussion highlights key concepts like the constancy of light speed and the profound implications of the twins paradox. Maudlin further connects relativity with quantum mechanics, bringing clarity to the intricate relationship between these foundational theories of physics.
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Einstein's Curiosity
- A young Einstein questioned why different actions with a coil and magnet produced the same current.
- His physics teacher could've told him to 'shut up and calculate', but his curiosity led to relativity.
Einstein's approach
- Einstein's thought experiments with simplified situations were key to his insights, not solely empirical problems.
- He questioned what an electromagnetic wave would look like if traveled alongside, a question Maxwell's theory couldn't answer.
The Ether Puzzle
- The 19th-century physicists puzzled over the nature of fields, unlike particles, these are everywhere.
- They sought a mechanical ether model, a medium for electromagnetic waves, creating theoretical, not empirical, problems.
