Light Propagation on a Moving Closed Contour and the Role of Simultaneity in Special Relativity



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Submitted Jul 29, 2021
Published Aug 30, 2021
10.24018/ejphysics.2021.3.4.99

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We consider an example of a moving closed contour and the role played by simultaneity in the description of light propagation on the contour's moving sections. We show that, when constrained to propagate along the contour, the local speed of light on a moving section is no longer arbitrary and a consistent description requires conservation of simultaneity.

Keywords: Einstein synchronization, light propagation, one-way speed of light, relative simultaneity, Sagnac effect

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