Vinaire's Blog

How do we measure the uniform motion of an object? Do we measure it by its velocity, or do we measure it by its inertia?

When we try to assess the magnitude of the uniform motion by the velocity of the object we immediately run into inconsistency. We find that the velocity is different in different frames of reference and therefore, relative.

However, when we try to change the uniform motion we experience a resistance that is always the same. No matter what the velocity of the object is, the same amount of change in velocity encounters the same resistance. This is called inertia. It seems to be absolute for an object.

The magnitude of the motion of an object may be assessed in an absolute sense by its inertia.

The inherent measure of motion comes from inertia because it is activated the moment change is attempted. It is different for different objects, but it is always constant for an object. It does not matter how slow, or how fast, that object is moving with respect to some external point. Inertia is a tendency of the motion to maintain itself, which is constant for an object.

Inertia is the measure of the constant state of an object in space-time.

The greater is the inertia the more difficult it is to change the state of the object through interacting with it. The state of a truck is more difficult to change than the state of a football. That means a truck has greater inertia than a football. The greatest inertia may be registered for black holes.

Similarly, the smaller is the inertia the easier it is to change the state of motion through ineracting with it. We may go beyond objects to consider the state of electromagnetic radiation. This inertia in this case will be the tendency of the frequency to maintain itself. It will appear as resistance to change in frequency, which would be quite small.

Inertia is the measure of the constant state of electromagnetic phenomena in space-time.

This is a different look at motion. We seem to think of motion as movement relative to external reference points. As long as this movement is uniform, it is constant for that object. That constant is the inertia of the object. It does not vary with frame of reference.

The inherent state of motion of something is expressed by its inertia rather than velocity.

The sense of motion, or inertia, is then best expressed as acceleration and gravity. Here are some thoughts about inertia.

1. Inertia is a state of motion that preserves itself. It is manifested as resistance only to restore the state of motion. Infinite inertia is the state that cannot be changed. Zero inertia is a state that is always changing.

2. The universe as a whole appears to be changeless in terms of its total energy and momentum. Therefore, we may postulate that the state of the universe is infinitely persistent.  In other words, the inertia of the universe is infinite.

3. The state of motion, or inertia, may then be measured in an absolute sense using the universe as the reference.

4. Inertia may be expressed as the mass of a particle, or frequency of a wave. A particle maintains it mass, and the wave propagates at a constant frequency.

5. The state of motion, or inertia, of an atom consists of both mass in nucleus and frequency in shells around the nucleus. Mass exerts much greater resistance to change than frequency.

6. A scale of inertia may be visualized from zero inertia or infinitely changeable state of SPACE, to infinite inertia or changeless state of UNIVERSE as a whole.

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Man looking out on the heavens. Woodcut from Universum by Camille Flammarion, published Paris, 1888. Monochrome version coloured by Hugo Heikenwaelder.

The “observer” of Einstein, whether it is a human or a physical instrument, is limited in its measurement by the velocity of light. Therefore, it cannot measure any velocity greater than the speed of light. The sense of space-time directly or through any instrument is similarly limited by the speed of light.

The Theory of Relativity basically acknowledges the physical perceptions to be limited by the speed of light.

However, mental perceptions are not limited by the speed of light. In order to define mental perception scientifically, let’s do the following thought experiment. Imagine being out there in the interstellar space without relying on physical perceptions. We ignore all light whether emitted from some source, or reflected by an object. This eliminates all external reference points. Now pay attention to your motion.

You could be standing still or you could be moving at the speed of light. But you will find that there is no mental perception of motion as long as it is uniform.  There is mental perception only when there is a change in motion accompanied by inertial resistance.

Mental perception seems to be related to inertial resistance.

Light that brings about physical perception of other objects is made up of changing electrical and magnetic fields. These changes are resisted by permittivity and permeability. This is a form of inertial resistance built into the very nature of light. We may refer to it as the inertia of light that is inherent. It determines the uniform motion of light.

In fact, this form of inertia is present wherever electromagnetic phenomenon is found, and that is pretty much in everything. Atoms and molecules consist of electromagnetic phenomenon and they make up all matter including the human body and brain. Thus inertia is built into the very fabric of the universe. Similar to mental perception, the physical perception also seems to based on inertia.

Physical perception seems to be related to inertia built into the fabric of the universe.

It seems that perception cannot be separated from inertia that is inherent to motion in all physical and mental phenomena. Every aspect of this universe is changing and giving rise to inertial forces at all times. This is a level of perception inherent to the universe.

This idea of perception goes far beyond what we think of as human perception and awareness. This perception is part of what is being observed. There is no separate viewpoint of the observer. The scientific method comes closest to this concept. Observation clarifies itself by looking more closely at inconsistencies.

Science is “observation” clarifying itself by looking at inconsistencies more closely.

The frame of reference of science is, therefore, the whole universe. In this frame of reference the perception is not limited by the speed of light. Science can perceive light creeping from star to star, while also perceiving the rotation of earth. Science can see the whole spectrum of motion in the universe at all times.

The Scientific frame of reference is the universe as a whole.

Once we fully understand this universal frame of reference, no other frame of reference is needed. In this frame of reference inertia determines the perception of motion and all other properties. The “uniform motion” of an object is determined by inherent inertial forces. These forces act to restore the uniform motion  whenever it is deviated from. The uniform motion of an object is not determined by the velocity of an external frame of reference.

The uniform motion of an object is determined by its inherent inertia.

All motion in this universe is continually changing. This makes the universe appear what it is. We may assume that the overall energy and momentum of the universe are conserved. This may mean that the universe, considered as a whole, is changeless. There is nothing beside the universe, so its overall properties are relative to itself only. We may assume the universe to have absolute motion of zero and infinite persistence.

The universe is inherently static and infinitely persistent.

Science may derive its sense of motion and time from the frame of reference of the universe as a whole.

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Reference: The Scientific Frame of Reference

Space and time seems to vary in their characteristics with inertia of objects and particles. Therefore, we must consider space and time of objects and particles in terms of their inertia.

The primary forms of inertia are frequency (for a wave) and mass (for a particle).

In the wave-frequency form of inertia, inertial space is defined by the wavelength, and the inertial time is defined by the period of the wave.

As frequency decreases, the inertial space expands, and so does time. At the limiting frequency of zero, inertia also approaches zero. The space acts as the unlimited background of the Cosmos, against which finite extents of waves and particles could be viewed. The time also acts as the unlimited background against which the finite durations of waves and particles could be viewed.

The background of the Cosmos is characterized by unlimited extent of space and time. This background offers no inertia or resistance to change.

In the particle-mass form of inertia, the inertial space is defined by the shape, and the inertial time is defined by the duration, of the particle.

As mass increases, the inertial space contracts, and so does time. At the limiting value of infinite mass, inertia also becomes infinite. The space reduces to a point location against the background of the Cosmos. The time reduces to a completely durable state against a background that allows any change.

The content of the Cosmos is made up of waves and particles of varying extents, and durations. It offers inertia or resistance to change to various degrees.

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