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The special-relativistic velocity-addition law and a related functional equation

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Abstract

An attempt is made to derive the velocity composition laws in the special theory of relativity from first principles, i.e., independent of the Lorentz transformations. This leads to a functional equation whose general solution generates an infinity of velocity addition laws besides the Einsteinian ones.

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Research supported by N.R.C., Canada, Grant No. A4054.

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Sen, D.K. The special-relativistic velocity-addition law and a related functional equation. Int J Theor Phys 18, 179–184 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00670394

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