Abstract
Measurements in spacetime can be classified as spacelike or timelike, according to the positional and temporal characteristics of the measuring process. A well-known adjective for the spacelike measurement is “synchronous.” To describe the timelike measurement the term “syntopic” is introduced. The use of these terms is illustrated in discussing the measurement of time dilatation and the Lorentz contraction.
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Newburgh, R.G. Syntopic measurements: A new classification of spacetime measurement. Found Phys 8, 393–398 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708570
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708570