Unsuitability of the moving light clock system for the Lorentz factor derivation

TL;DR

The paper demonstrates that the moving light clock system is unsuitable for deriving the Lorentz factor because it misrepresents wavefront orientation and light velocity, illustrating relativity of observation rather than time dilation.

Contribution

It critically analyzes the moving light clock system and shows it cannot accurately derive the Lorentz factor due to wavefront orientation issues.

Findings

Wavefront observed in the stationary frame is not perpendicular to light pulse.

Velocity c is derived as the vertical component of the pulse.

The system illustrates observation relativity, not time dilation.

Abstract

The moving light clock system was analyzed with respect to the orientation of the wavefront of the light pulse observed in the moving and stationary frames of reference. The plane wavefront of the light pulse was oriented horizontally in both the frames. The wavefront observed in the stationary frame was not perpendicular to the direction of the light pulse propagation. This showed different characteristics of the light pulse than that assumed in the Lorentz factor derivation. According to the horizontal orientation of the wavefront, velocity c was determined as the vertical component of the light pulse motion observed in the stationary frame. Application of this velocity distribution in the Lorentz factor derivation showed the same travel time for the light pulse observed in the moving and stationary frames of reference. The moving light clock system was therefore found to be unsuitable for the Lorentz factor derivation and illustration of time dilation, and shown to illustrate the relativity of the observation of light rather than the relativity of time.