The Special Theory of Relativity has two postulates, that the laws of nature are the same for all inertial reference frames, and that the speed of light is a constant c for all inertial reference frames. One consequence of these premises is that absolute inertial motion can not be determined. A typical demonstration of the theory uses a thought experiment that involves two inertial reference frames moving with speed v relative to each other along coincident x-axis and x’-axis, and a pulse of light that travels from a point, reflects off a mirror, and returns. The two frames have the same x, y and z directions, that is, x-axis is parallel with x’-axis, y-axis is parallel with y’-axis, and z-axis is parallel with z’-axis. An observer in the first inertial reference frame, as shown in Fig. 1, sees the pulse of light move vertically up from the origin along the z-axis, which is perpendicular to the direction of relative motion, reflect off the mirror and return to the origin along the z-axis. Assuming that the height is 1 meter, then the total distance traveled is 2 meters. The second observer is moving relative to the first observer’s reference frame. He sees the pulse of light move at an angle to the z’-axis from the initial point, as shown in Fig. 2, reflecting off the mirror and returning at an angle to another point that is displaced along the direction of relative motion on the x’-axis. The theory requires that the pulse move along its path for any observer at the speed of light c. The second observer sees that the distance traveled is the length of the two hypotenuses of the right triangles, which is greater than 2 meters. This leads to the conclusion that there is time dilation for events from one frame to the next. Another consequence is length contraction in the direction of relative motion. These simple ideas have had a profound influence on the interpretation of nature.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that has varying orthogonal electric field E and magnetic field B. The Poynting vector P, is the cross product of E x B and indicates the direction that the light wave propagates. The Poynting vector’s direction is perpendicular to the E x B plane. The wave only propagates in the direction of its Poynting vector. If E and B are parallel with the x-y plane, then the Poynting vector is parallel with the z-axis. Light has a definite speed through space and other speeds through other media. For particular conditions or causes, one expects a unique effect, such as speed of light.

Let us perform another thought experiment just like the one above, with two observers in different inertial reference frames, but provide more details and give the observers the ability to observe the electromagnetic fields and determine the Poynting vectors. There are some initial conditions. Both observers know that E and B fields will have components only in a plane parallel with the x-y and x’-y’ planes, and therefore no components along the z-axis and z’-axis. Both theories of relativity require the invariance of distances that are perpendicular to the relative motion of the two frames, and therefore a plane that is parallel with the direction of motion is considered and must be parallel in both frames. The two frames have the same x, y and z directions, and are only moving with speed v along the x-axis and x’-axis relative to each other as in the previous thought experiment.

The first observer, as shown in Fig. 1, sees a light pulse whose E and B fields are parallel with the x-y plane and calculates its Poynting vector is along the z-axis. It originates at the origin of his reference frame, and propagates along the z-axis. It travels one meter and reflects off a mirror, returning to the origin along the z-axis, as in the first experiment. He observes that the E and B fields are parallel with the x-y plane and therefore that the Poynting vector is coaxial with the z-axis. The second observer sees the pulse move at an angle to the z’-axis. Assume that the premise of constant speed of light c for all inertial reference frames is true, and that the pulse is traveling along its path at c, the speed of light. Therefore the second observer must conclude that the Poynting vector is along its path, as shown in Fig. 2, and that the E and B fields have components along the z’-axis. This premise of a constant c for all inertial reference frames leads to a contradiction of the initial conditions, that E and B are only parallel with the x-y and x’-y’ planes and also parallel with the direction of motion, and therefore this premise and Special Relativity must be false. The second observer, as shown in Fig. 3, would see that the light pulse has two components to its motion. He would observe the E and B fields parallel with the x-y and x’-y’ planes, and calculate the Poynting vector along the z-axis and parallel with the z’-axis. He would observe the pulse traveling in the direction of the z’-axis at c, the speed of light, and also traveling along the x’-axis with the relative speed v of the two reference frames. The speed along its path would therefore be greater than c. It would travel along the two hypotenuses as before, but the second observer would conclude that the events required the same amount of time as the first observer, and therefore there is no time dilation.

What about the famous Michelson-Morley experiments to determine motion through the absolute ether. There were no changes in the experiments’ interference patterns, and since the Earth is traveling through space, the experiments supposedly proved that c is a constant for all inertial reference frames. A different explanation is that the experiments were performed in a localized absolute inertial reference frame produced by the matter surrounding the experimental apparatus. It is not a true absolute inertial reference frame because the earth is moving. It is not an inertial reference frame since there is some slight acceleration. But if the apparatus is motionless within its localized reference frame, then any short time duration electromagnetic experiment performed within its limits would produce results as though it were in a motionless space. The apparatus must be moved within this localized absolute reference frame to detect motion. It is known that spinning the apparatus will detect rotary motion. Linear motion of the apparatus within the space should also be detected by changes in the interference patterns.

Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetism were based upon stationary experiments in localized absolute inertial reference frames. The speed of light would appear as a constant under such conditions. One would expect that these experiments would be affected if they were moved through these localized absolute inertial reference frames. Therefore Maxwell’s equations may need changes, in order to be more general.