Is a physical basis that necessarily requires constancy of the speed of light a logical impossibility, or is the constancy of the speed of light the result of ideas not yet found or applied?
Does isotropy require constancy of the speed of light?
Jensen’s inequality for concave and convex functions, implies for a logarithmic function maximal value when the base of the log is the system’s mean. Mathematically, this implies that the speed of light must be uniform in all directions to optimize distribution of energy. This idea has a flaw. Creation of the universe happened considerably before mathematics and before Jensen’s inequality in 1906. Invert the conceptual reference frame and suppose that Jensen’s inequality is mathematically provable in our universe because it is exactly the type of universe that makes Jensen’s inequality mathematically true in it. A mathematical argument based on Jensen’s inequality goes around in a circle. Are there reasons, leaving aside Jensen’s inequality (or even including Jensen’s inequality), that require constancy of the speed of light?
Time, Clocks and the Speed of Light, a 2006 article by Vasco Guerra and Rodrigo de Abreu, considers issues that pertain to this question.
The constancy of speed of light in a vacuum, independent of frequency, is to my knowledge almost exclusively an empiric result. However integrated into SR permits a coherent explanation of other facts that turn out correct.
Dear Robert Shour
The constancy of light speed is a direct consequence of the Albert Einstein famous equation E = mc2.
Did you want to claim that Energy is a variable quantity for a fixed mass?!
Best regards
DESY discusses the question is the speed of light constant at:
http://www.desy.de/user/projects/Physics/Relativity/SpeedOfLight/speed_of_light.html
So, you can see how the essay ends by confirming that the light speed is constant.
There is a website: e=mc^2 explained. On the home page on the left is the topic Special Relativity Pages, one of which is The Constant Speed of Light.
The webmaster on the Constant Speed of Light page writes: 'Probably the most startling demonstration of the second postulate being correct is the detonation of an atomic bomb.'
Since that derives from Einstein’s Second Postulate, The principle of the constancy of the speed of light, and the consequent e=mc^2, the webmaster continues: `There are few more convincing ways in which a "theory" can be demonstrated to be correct.'
But consistency is not necessity.
The discussion is about the light speed in the same medium(in general, the space vacuum). For example, does the light speed affected by the gravity
(Diffraction phenomenon) when passing near black holes? It has no meaning to study the light speed in a medium where light can not penetrate.
Only Mathematics can prove the existence and the natural universal phenomena.
The constancy of the speed of light is result of the solving
mathematical equations done by Einstein , so it is mathematical and logical reasons.phenomena.
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