Resolving the One-Way Speed of Light
Title: Resolving the One-Way Speed of Light Measurement Problem Using the Geometric-Frequency Transform (GFT) Framework
Author: Orion Franklin, Syme Research Collective
Date: March, 2025
Abstract
The inability to directly measure the one-way speed of light (c) has long been an unresolved issue in physics. Current methods require a round-trip measurement due to synchronization constraints and relativistic effects. This paper explores the Geometric-Frequency Transform (GFT) framework as a novel solution, proposing that all matter is already moving at c in a partitioned manner across space, time, and frequency domains. Our perceived velocity is merely a projection of this deeper motion structure. By redefining motion as a frequency-distributed phenomenon, we argue that the one-way speed of light paradox arises because we unconsciously measure our own fundamental motion in time. This insight provides new perspectives on reference frames, relativistic time dilation, and the nature of spacetime itself.
Introduction: The One-Way Measurement Problem
The Conventional Measurement Dilemma
The speed of light is always measured as c (~299,792,458 m/s) in a vacuum, regardless of the observer’s frame of reference. However, all empirical measurements rely on a round-trip setup, such as reflecting light off a mirror and measuring the time elapsed. This necessity arises from:
Relativity’s Constraint on Absolute Motion: No preferred frame of reference exists to define absolute velocity.
Clock Synchronization Issues: To measure one-way velocity, two clocks must be pre-synchronized, but synchronization methods rely on assumptions about c.
The Frame-Invariant Nature of Light’s Speed: Light always appears to move at c, regardless of the observer’s own motion.
If we could directly measure the one-way speed of light, we might uncover deeper insights into spacetime structure. The Geometric-Frequency Transform (GFT) provides a theoretical foundation that suggests why such a measurement is inherently self-referential and impossible within our current framework.
The GFT Perspective: All Matter Moves at c
Motion as a Partitioned Phenomenon
The Geometric-Frequency Transform proposes that all objects already move at the speed of light, but this motion is partitioned across three domains:
C2=vspace2+vtime2+vfrequency
Where:
v_space = Observable velocity through 3D space
v_time = Motion through time (aging, relativistic effects)
v_frequency = Motion through a hidden geometric-frequency domain
C = Total motion, always equal to c
This equation mirrors the Pythagorean theorem, conceptualizing motion as a multi-dimensional geometric relationship. Shifting motion into one domain necessarily reduces motion in another, providing an alternative explanation for relativistic effects.
Why the One-Way Measurement Problem Exists
Our perception of light’s motion at c is actually a measurement of our own fundamental motion in time.
Because we are moving at c in totality, any attempt to measure a one-way velocity becomes a self-referential measurement.
Round-trip measurements work because they compare motion across a closed spacetime loop, allowing synchronization between spatial and temporal partitions.
The Orbit Analogy
To measure our motion at c, we must complete a full orbit (or loop) in spacetime:
This closing of a spacetime path is necessary because all motion is relative to our inherent motion at c in the time and frequency domains.
In a sense, our perception of light moving at c is simply the consequence of how our own motion is distributed in the spacetime-frequency structure.
Implications of GFT for Physics
Relativistic Time Dilation Reinterpreted
If all matter moves at c, then what we experience as time is just another form of motion:
An object moving through space at high velocity reallocates motion from the time domain to the space domain, leading to time dilation.
An object “at rest” in space is actually moving at full speed (c) through time.
Dark Matter and Dark Energy as Frequency-Space Motion
If some mass-energy moves primarily in the frequency domain, it may not be directly observable in spacetime.
Dark matter could represent mass-energy that exists in a different frequency partition, interacting gravitationally but not electromagnetically.
Dark energy could arise from a long-term reallocation of motion across the frequency spectrum, altering the universe’s expansion dynamics.
Possibility of Faster-Than-Light (FTL) Travel
If motion at c is a constant partitioning rather than a speed limit, FTL may not require breaking c but rather reallocating motion into unobservable domains.
This could provide the foundation for frequency-based propulsion methods where objects transition between space and frequency components.
Acceleration as Deceleration: The Paradox of Slowing to Light Speed
Reversal of Acceleration and Deceleration
Conventional physics defines acceleration as increasing velocity, but under GFT:
Increasing velocity in 3D space reduces velocity through time, leading to relativistic time dilation.
Achieving the speed of light is not about pushing forward but rather about redistributing motion across domains.
Attempting to decelerate entirely in space would shift all motion into the time domain, which is practically impossible.
Why Perfect Stillness Is Impossible
Since all matter moves at c in totality, perfect stillness does not exist.
Even in deep space, cosmic structures maintain residual motion, ensuring nothing is truly at rest.
Experimental and Theoretical Tests
To validate these ideas, we propose:
Reanalyzing relativistic motion equations using geometric-frequency partitions instead of stepwise velocity models.
Examining gravitational lensing data for small deviations from General Relativity, suggesting missing motion components in the frequency domain.
Simulating motion in a GFT framework to demonstrate how objects at rest in space still exhibit movement in unobservable domains.
Conclusion: A New Paradigm for Motion and Light
The Geometric-Frequency Transform (GFT) offers a revolutionary explanation for the long-standing mystery of the one-way speed of light problem. By recognizing that all matter inherently moves at the speed of light (c), but that this motion is partitioned across space, time, and frequency dimensions, we redefine how motion and time function at a fundamental level. This framework clarifies why direct one-way measurements of light are impossible—we are measuring motion from within a system where everything is already moving at c.
This new perspective has profound implications for physics, offering fresh insights into the nature of time dilation, relativistic effects, and the interconnected nature of space and time. Additionally, the GFT model suggests potential explanations for dark matter and dark energy, proposing that they may be manifestations of motion distributed beyond our observable dimensions.
Understanding motion as a geometric-frequency relationship could also open the door to advanced propulsion methods, including frequency-based motion reallocation, which may provide a pathway to faster-than-light travel. By reshaping our perception of motion, time, and spacetime itself, the GFT framework establishes a foundation for breakthroughs in theoretical physics, cosmology, and future space exploration.
Future Work
Extending GFT to quantum mechanics to explore implications for wave-particle duality.
Investigating controlled motion reallocation for potential FTL travel.
Further examining the relationship between motion, entropy, and cosmic evolution.
References
Einstein, A. (1905). "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies." Annalen der Physik.
Wheeler, J. A., & Feynman, R. P. (1945). "Interaction with the Absorber as the Mechanism of Radiation." Reviews of Modern Physics.
Misner, C. W., Thorne, K. S., & Wheeler, J. A. (1973). "Gravitation." W. H. Freeman.
Barbour, J. (2000). "The End of Time: The Next Revolution in Physics." Oxford University Press.
