Final answer:
Using EM waves to detect motion between inertial frames contradicts the principles of relativity, where the speed of light is constant and simultaneous events in one frame may not be so in another.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the concept of electromagnetic (EM) waves and their interaction with motion in different inertial frames, rooted in the principles of special relativity developed by Albert Einstein. According to Einstein's theory, the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames, and the speed of light in vacuum is constant, regardless of the motion of the light source or observer. This stands in contrast with classical mechanics, where velocities add like simple vectors.
If we were to use EM waves to detect motion between inertial frames, we would run into a contradiction with Maxwell's equations if an observer could travel at the speed of light. Such an observer would perceive the electric and magnetic fields of light waves as unchanging in time, which is not allowed by Maxwell's equations. Therefore, it's not 'forbidden' in a literal sense to use EM waves for detecting motion, but rather, the idea of using EM waves in this way is incompatible with the fundamental laws of physics as described by relativity.
Symmetry and simultaneity are also relative concepts in Einstein's framework. Events that are simultaneous in one inertial frame are not necessarily so in another. This leads to fascinating phenomena like time dilation, which has been experimentally confirmed, such as in the Hafele-Keating experiment.