The Speed of Light is not Necessarily Fixed!!

On the Circularity of Some Proofs of the Speed of Light
Simon Proops BSc MBA

It is taken as axiomatic that light's speed cannot be exceeded in the
Universe. However, how is the speed of light to be measured? One
method is to time the interval between sending a laser beam, say, and
receiving it on a scale large enough to measure. For this experiment,
we will use the distance from the earth to the moon. The speed of
light then can be determined as the known distance to the moon, y,
divided by the time between transmission and reception of the beam of
light, t. Here, the measurement of speed is reduced to a measurement
of distance, y, assuming that time remains a constant. But how are we
to measure distance on such a scale? Two methods are available to us;
parallax and speed based time taken at less than light speed. Both
rely on knowledge of a fixed distance or length.



In the case of parallax, the distance between measuring points on
earth, x, yields the fixed distance, y, via the geometrical formula
sin()=0.5x/y or y=0.5x/sin(). In the case of less than light speed
measurement by, for example, a spaceship travelling at velocity v,
y=vt where time is measured t. Both methods rely on the variable such
as the parallax distance x, or velocity v, to be known exactly. This
in turn requires a yardstick or standard meter of known length.
However, such a standard length as, for example, a meter, must be
observed to ensure accuracy. Such accuracy requires that light, and
thereby our ability to perceive and measure the standard length,
travels at its fixed velocity of c. In order to measure the speed of
light we have made the fixed speed of light a precondition or
assumption, which renders the logical methodology as flawed since it
does not start from first principles.

If, for example, light, and by implication, information, travels
faster than the constant c, then the yardstick could be longer than we
observe in experiment. This could mean the parallax distance x is
longer and distance to the moon, y, is longer, which confirms the
initial assumption that light travels faster than c. While at first
trivial, this quick analysis of the logical flaws in a scientific
assessment of the speed, and absoluteness of that speed, of light,
lays the groundwork for more serious contemplations. An expanding
universe, starting from a big bang, requires a constant light speed c
so that the red shift of observed celestial bodies proves universal
expansion. If c is not constant, as suggested above, the red shift
may be a constant feature of interstellar observations, rather than
indicating cosmic expansion. Here, the steady state universe is
possible, with neither expansion nor a big bang, but rather which is
infinite in size and time, existing and to exist always. According to
the breakdown of c as a limitation to the transport of information,
this universe also enjoys simultaneity so that the concept of ‘now'
can be shared at great distances.

Once can only dream about the possibilities of interstellar travel
which a permeable value of c could lead to.