For physics to be an empirical science, it must assume the universe is finite.

What is it about?

The Michelson-Morley (1887) experiment tested the hypothesis that ether is the medium through which light travels. To do this, they hypothesized there would be a difference in time it takes light to travel between moving in the opposite direction of and moving in the same direction of the ether (they assumed that the direction of the ether movement was determined by the earth's rotation). The experiment showed no difference between the travel times of light. Einstein drew on the negative results of the Michelson-Morley (1887) experiment to derive the Lorentz transformation (which Henri Poincare derived before Einstein using a different method). The Lorentz transformation accounts for time dilation and the increase of a body's mass at high velocities. However, Einstein's method of deriving the Lorentz transformation assumes that all motion is relative and thus, that the universe is infinite and unbounded. This article explains why it is illogical for empirical science to assume an infinitely large universe and points out other problems with Einstein's relativity theory.

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Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article suggests that an alternative transformation equation should be sought to account for time dilation and the increase of a body's mass at high velocities. An alternative transformation equation that is theoretically more palatable might achieve more accurate experimental predictions than does the Lorentz transformation and might engender better theories yet to come.

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