Empirical equivalence under uniform boosts

ID: empirical-equivalence-under-uniform-boosts

For Newtonian mechanics with forces depending only on relative positions, a common Galilean transformation leaves relative positions and accelerations unchanged. Internal mechanical observations therefore cannot discriminate rival choices of a wholly uncoupled privileged uniform rest state. The qualification concerns uniform motion; it does not imply that rotation or acceleration is unobservable, or that special relativity makes identical predictions.

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