Preferred frame  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to:
navigation, search  In theoretical physics, a preferred or
privileged frame is usually a special hypothetical frame of
reference in which the laws of physics might appear to be
identifiably different (simpler) from those in other frames.  In
theories that apply the principle of relativity to inertial
motion, physics is the same in all inertial frames, and is even
the same in all frames under the general principle of
relativity.  Preferred frame in aether theory[edit]  In theories
that presume that light travels at a fixed speed relative to an
unmodifiable and detectable luminiferous aether, a preferred
frame would be a frame in which this aether would be stationary.
In 1887, Michelson and Morley tried to identify the state of
motion of the aether. To do so, they assumed Galilean Relativity
to be satisfied by clocks and rulers; that is, that the length
of rulers and periods of clocks are invariant under any Galilean
frame change. Under such an hyp