What would aetherists say about that there thread?
What would (aetherists) Voigt & Larmor & Lorentz & Poincare say? I reckon that they would all say NO. I think that Voigt would be a NO-1. He would quickly accept that there is a contraction of the coordinates (ie a contraction of the center to center distance tween spaceships), & after some more thinking he would accept that the spaceships would themselves contract, but probably not due to any physical electromagnetic reasons, but due to a coordinate transformation effect (
according to a stationary observer), & that the gap would contract, & that the thread would contract, all in equal measure. And he would then quickly change the subject, or perhaps he would walk away mumbling & scratching his head. But Larmor Lorentz & Poincare would be a NO-2.
NO-2. As for NO-1, but they would say that the contraction of the spaceships & thread is a physical effect, not a coordinate effect.
YES-6. I need to include this to cover the possibility that Larmor or Lorentz or Poincare after some clear thinking eventually realize that their theory gives a double dose of contraction, ie a physical contraction (of spaceships & thread)(ataso) on top of a coordinate contraction (ataso), in which case the thread breaks.
What would aetherist Janossy say? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lajos_J%C3%A1nossy
L Janossy -- Book -- 1972 – The theory of relativity based on physical reality. I haven’t read his book ($150) but judging by comments i reckon that Janossy might be a neoLorentzian, ie believing in a free-range aether blowing throo our solar system. If anyone can find some more info on his ideas i would appreciate knowing. I might try an inter-library loan. Ok here is what a neoLorentzian would say.
YES-7. The spaceships & thread physically contract & the thread breaks, because the faster the aetherwind blowing through the spaceships then the greater the contraction. The distance tween centers of the contracting spaceships doesn't change, but the gap gets wider (ataso).
NO-3. Alternatively the thread doesn't break, if the aetherwind is initially from behind. Because during acceleration that aether tailwind slows & the spaceships & thread dilate (ataso), & the gap contracts. Then gradually the tailwind becomes a headwind & eventually the headwind results in the thread breaking (in accordance with YES-7).
So that’s the neoLorentzian aetherist explanation. There are no clock synchronisation complications. No coordinate transforms needed. No spacetime needed. Not the slightest smell of any possible paradox or catastrophe. However me myself i don’t exactly agree with this neoLorentz explanation, i have issues with the Lorentz factor, but that is another story.