=============================================================================== Glossary =============================================================================== #space (prefix "#"): Abstract concept synonymous with that of Set. =============================================================================== Phenomenon: Concrete or virtual Observation. =============================================================================== Phenomenon #space (PS): Set of Phenomena. It encompasses: 1.space, or 3D Euclidian #space, 2.1D time #space. Model #space (MS): A particular subset of #space which endeavours to map, to order and to coordinate Phenomena of PS into consistent and coherent structures. Event: Elementary Phenomenon which may be mapped to a point of MS. We will say that "event" of PS maps into "#event" of MS and that "phenomenon" of PS maps into "#phenomenon" or a structure of #events in MS Theory, or Model: A particular MS. NOTE 1: PS is unique per observer and Theory independent. NOTE 2: Virtual Observations are "mental experiments" conceived in MS. They are the rockbed of scientific creativity and verification and, more generally, of any planned and purposeful human activity. NOTE 3: Observations, whether concrete or virtual may be direct, i.e. perceived via observer's senses, or indirect, noted as output of technical devices. Design of such experimental devices falls into the field of virtual observations and is one of fundamental activities of science. =============================================================================== Naive View (NV): A fundamental, elementary MS constructed by the Subconscious Mind from subjective perceptions. Phenomena are mapped into NV and subjectively perceived as "real" objects and events. Their #space is perceived as "reality". NV's "reality" is the direct mapping or appearance of external, transcendental reality to the conscious mind. Transcendental reality is accessible to cognition only via its "reality" map into the NV. As such, it stays outside of cognition and, consequently, outside of the scope of our Workshop. In future texts we may drop the inverted commas and talk about reality when no ambiguity will be possible and aways keeping in mind that we mean by it the "reality" of NV. NV deals with the #space of PS encompassing as said above: 1.space, or 3D Euclidian #space, 2.time as 1D #space. NV is a MS highly organized and ordered by the subconscious mind including its particular reason, often called "Common Sense". Highbrow, ivory tower scientists despise the "Common Sense" as the worst guide in science. And, indeed, it is a bad guide when applied out of NV to MS's where it is not pertinent. The first precept of rationality is to apply particular pertinent reason for particular context where it belongs. However, that's exactly what the well understood Common Sense tells us, thus becoming the best, indeed the only guide in science. Cutting us from the Common Sense results in acrobatic playing with impressing equations without getting the gist of the play. =============================================================================== Object and Body. In order to keep in line with current terms of Physics' metalanguage, in #spaces encompassing space and time dimensions, we may call some space structures "objects" or "bodies". =============================================================================== Referential: A particular context of #events. Reference System: A particular system of coordinates associated with a referential. We may use "system" for "reference system" where the context excludes any ambiguity. NOTE 1: Referential is a concept indispensable for intuitive creativity and understanding. It's enough to mention such concepts as a spinning disk or a box falling free in the gravity field. It precedes its mathematical formalization with help of some (reference) systems. After this formalization it often, if not always, carries the gist of a Model, which should be understandable without mathematical details. NOTE 2: We shall not use (else than in quotations) the term "reference frame". It's redundant and misleading in its suggestion of some "container" of different nature than its contents. NOTE 3: We hope to have introduced some order into the essential for Relativity, but badly muddled terminology. In Einstein's writings we have noted "reference system", "reference frame", "reference coordinates", "reference body", "reference object" and the German "Bezugssystem" loaded with still different connotations. =============================================================================== Einstein's Covering Principle (ECP) (Gesetz der Lagerung starrer Koerper): When a virtual observation involves distance measurement, it has to be carried out with help of rigid bodies of known unit-, or reference length. We shall say that a segment is 5m long if and only if it is exactly covered with five rigid bodies of 1m each. Covering bodies and covered segment comply during the measurement with all laws of the involved MS. For instance covering bodies may be subject to Lorentz contraction and the covered segment has to be one of a geodesic of the involved MS. Shortly: Rigid bodies complying with MS's laws must exactly cover patterns complying with MS's geometry. In case of curved #space, covering bodies must have the curvature corresponding to that of the covered pattern. =============================================================================== PARENTS: WORKSHOPS ARCHIVE