The physics of space and time III: Classification of space-time experiments and the twin paradox
arXiv:0806.3671
Abstract
A nomenclature for inertial frames and a notation for space and time coordinates is proposed to give an unambigous description of space-time experiments in special relativity. Of particular importance are the concepts of `base' and `travelling' frames and `primary' and `reciprocal' experiments. A detailed discussion of the twin paradox is presented. The physical basis of the differential aging effect is found to be a relativistic relative-velocity transformation relation, not, as hitherto supposed, the spurious `length contraction' effect.
60 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables. v2 velocity notation in Sect. 3 and 4 and figures improved. References updated
References in corpus (8)
- The Local Space-Time Lorentz Transformation: a New Formulation of Special Relativity Compatible with Translational Invariance
- Translational invariance and the space-time Lorentz transformation with arbitrary spatial coordinates
- Spatially-separated synchronised clocks in the same inertial frame: Time dilatation, but no relativity of simultaneity or length contraction
- The physics of space and time I: The description of rulers and clocks in uniform translational motion by Galilean or Lorentz transformations
- A sign error in the Minkowski space-time plot and its consequences
- Inter-charge forces in relativistic classical electrodynamics: electromagnetic induction in different reference frames
- The physics of space and time II: A reassessment of Einstein's 1905 special relativity paper
- Time and motion in physics: the Reciprocity Principle, relativistic invariance of the lengths of rulers and time dilatation