Symmetries and Asymmetries in Classical and Relativistic Electrodynamics
| Scientific Paper | |
|---|---|
| Title | Symmetries and Asymmetries in Classical and Relativistic Electrodynamics |
| Author(s) | Umberto Bartocci, Marco Mamone Capria |
| Keywords | Classical Electrodynamics, Relativistic Electrodynamics |
| Published | 1991 |
| Journal | Foundations of Physics |
| Volume | 21 |
| Number | 7 |
| Pages | 787-801 |
Abstract
By a comparison between maxwell's electrodynamics classically interpreted (MT) and relativistic electrodynamics (RED), this paper discusses whether the "asymmetries" in MT mentioned by A. Einstein in his 1905 relativity paper are only of a conceptual nature of rather involve specific empirical claims. It is shown that in fact MT predicts strongly asymmetric behaviour for very simple interactions, and an analysis is made of the extent of the ?symmetry? achieved by means of relativistic postulates. A "low" velocity experiment is suggested which could provide another test of the accuracy of RED with respect to MT.