[Physics] Isn’t the “constant speed of light” postulate valid also for sound waves

special-relativityspeed-of-light

The second postulate of Special Relativity says:

As measured in any inertial frame of reference, light is always propagated in empty space with a definite velocity c that is independent of the state of motion of the emitting body.

But isn't it also valid for sound waves? I mean, a jet flying above the speed of sound will not generate waves that travel at V+U (where V is the jet's velocity and U the speed of sound), but waves that travel at U. Provided that Maxwell's laws show that light is a wave, what's the point of this postulate?

Best Answer

Light doesn't travel at $c+V$ (where $V$ is the speed of the source), it travels at $c$.

What's the difference? It means that if you're flying towards someone at a speed $V$ and you shine a light at them, you measure the light to travel away from you at a speed $c$, but the other person measures it to fly past them also at a speed $c$ (i.e. not $V+c$).

In the case of sound, the source and observer may disagree on the relative speed. The source will measure the sound to propagate at a speed $U-V$, whereas the observer will measure it to propagate at $U$.