Dimensionality in Physics

Abstract

This paper is the first of a two-part series which re-interprets relativistic length contraction and time dilation in terms of concepts argued to be more fundamental, broadly construed to mean: concepts which point to the next paradigm. In this paper, Lorentz contraction is re-interpreted in terms of the concept of dimensional abatement, and three overarching arguments are given that the latter is more fundamental: Dimensional abatement (1) focuses attention on two fundamental spacetime principles the significance of which is unappreciated under the current paradigm, (2) permits an understanding of speed of light invariance in terms of dimensionally reduced objects and coordinate frames, and (3) leads to the formulation of a principle, called dimensional superposition, which permits a deeper and more unified conceptual understanding of Maxwell's equations in terms of two metaprinciples.