dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaAbsolute simultaneity and invariant lengths: Special Relativity without light signals or synchronised clocks
| Authors | J. H. Field |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0604010 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0604010 |
| License | http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/ |
Abstract
It is demonstrated that the measured spatial separation of two objects, at rest in some inertial frame, is invariant under space-time transformations. This result holds in both Galilean and Special Relativity. A corollary is that there are no `length contraction' or associated 'relativity of simultaneity' effects in the latter theory. A thought experiment employing four unsynchronised clocks and a single measuring rod reveals that the physical basis of the time dilatation effect is a relative velocity transformation law, not `length contraction'. Time dilatation, which is universal and translation invariant for all synchronised clocks at rest in any inertial frame, is the unique space-time phenomenon discriminating Special from Galilean Relativity.
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"abstract": "It is demonstrated that the measured spatial separation of two objects, at\nrest in some inertial frame, is invariant under space-time transformations.\nThis result holds in both Galilean and Special Relativity. A corollary is that\nthere are no `length contraction\u0027 or associated \u0027relativity of simultaneity\u0027\neffects in the latter theory. A thought experiment employing four\nunsynchronised clocks and a single measuring rod reveals that the physical\nbasis of the time dilatation effect is a relative velocity transformation law,\nnot `length contraction\u0027. Time dilatation, which is universal and translation\ninvariant for all synchronised clocks at rest in any inertial frame, is the\nunique space-time phenomenon discriminating Special from Galilean Relativity.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0604010",
"authors": [
"J. H. Field"
],
"categories": [
"physics.gen-ph"
],
"license": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
"title": "Absolute simultaneity and invariant lengths: Special Relativity without light signals or synchronised clocks",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0604010"
},
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