Lorentz contraction, Bell's spaceships and rigid body motion in special relativity
Abstract
The meaning of Lorentz contraction in special relativity and its connection with Bell's spaceships parable is discussed. The motion of Bell's spaceships is then compared with the accelerated motion of a rigid body. We have tried to write this in a simple form that could be used to correct students' misconceptions due to conflicting earlier treatments.
- Publication:
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European Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- March 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0143-0807/31/2/006
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0906.1919
- Bibcode:
- 2010EJPh...31..291F
- Keywords:
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- Physics - Classical Physics
- E-Print:
- Modified the discussion in Sec. 2. This version to be published in European Journal of Physics