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Rigid body and the “length contraction paradoxes” in special relativity

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In physics, the concept of a rigid body (RB) implies a body that retains its form, i.e., even its volume, as long as it is not subject to forces that destroy the connections between its components. However, according to the special theory of relativity (STR), a RB will be distorted even without these forces, if it makes even the simplest motions in vacuum. The treatment of a RB according to the STR is closely related to the “length contraction hypothesis”: according to the relativists who stated that “length contraction” is true, there is no RB in the STR; while according to the relativists who stated that “length contraction is only velocity perspective,” the term RB continues to be valid in the STR, but must be redefined. Here, it will be proved that this STR claim does not hold true for any of these options. The STR “paradoxes” related to the length contraction find a consistent solution in physics, while maintaining the RB concept, only if we assume that the length contraction of bodies is only an illusion.

Keywords: Rigid Body; Special Relativity “Paradoxes.”

Document Type: Research Article

Publication date: 22 March 2017

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  • Physics Essays has been established as an international journal dedicated to theoretical and experimental aspects of fundamental problems in Physics and, generally, to the advancement of basic knowledge of Physics. The Journal's mandate is to publish rigorous and methodological examinations of past, current, and advanced concepts, methods and results in physics research. Physics Essays dedicates itself to the publication of stimulating exploratory, and original papers in a variety of physics disciplines, such as spectroscopy, quantum mechanics, particle physics, electromagnetic theory, astrophysics, space physics, mathematical methods in physics, plasma physics, philosophical aspects of physics, chemical physics, and relativity.
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