Creation Research Database

Mach's Principle in General Relativity and Reduced Light Travel Times in Cavitated Cosmologies

Dennis, Phillip W. (2022) Mach's Principle in General Relativity and Reduced Light Travel Times in Cavitated Cosmologies. Answers Research Journal, 15: 20. pp. 339-357. ISSN 1937-9056

Abstract

We explore the effect of cosmic voids on the light-travel-time-problem (LTTP) in a young age creationist (YAC) cosmology. We show that voids in an expanding universe can result in travel times much shorter than the typical times obtained in a globally homogeneous universe. We discuss the popular view that space is expanding in the Friedman-LeMaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) cosmologies. Contrary to that is the author's view that space does not expand. The popular explanation that space can expand faster than the speed of light in general relativity is a peculiarity of the fact that the homogeneous matter in the FLRW is coterminous with the space, so that the expanding matter has been confused with expanding space. For example, an expanding cavity formed by the expansion of surrounding matter is not a case of expanding space. Rather, it is an empty cavity of increasing volume This author claims: (1) general relativity (GR) is the covering theory of special relativity, nothing in GR precludes global velocities greater than the local speed of light; and (2) by way of Mach's principle, light in the expanding universe is dragged by the expanding matter (not space). This Machian view is in line with the principle of GR that matter is the source of gravitational dynamics and the distortion of space. Within GR matter has physical efficacy, empty space does not. Inertial dragging by the Hubble flow always results in the light traveling faster than the expanding matter in such a way that the local speed of light is c. We derive the travel time of light emitted a distance r in an expanding universe to arrive at r = 0 in a FLRW cosmology. We derive the equivalent time of flight for traversing a cavity of proper radius r. We find that during the expansion, light in the cavity takes significantly less time than the light in the expanding universe model. If the earth is in a local void, with multiple voids along the light path, then light reaches the earth faster than in the FLRW models. This reduction of travel time when coupled with my GR model (Dennis 2018) will add a further refinement.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science (General) > QC Physics > QC178 Gravity. General Relativity
Q Science (General) > QB Astronomy > QB980 Cosmogony. Cosmology
Q Science (General) > QB Astronomy > QB495 Descriptive astronomy > QB495.2 Stars. Stellar Evolution. Distant Starlight
Depositing User: Admin
Date Deposited: 04 Sep 2026 23:43
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2026 23:43
URI: https://crsq.creationresearch.org/id/eprint/1639

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