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Some Paradoxes in Special Relativity and the Resolutions

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Abstract

The special theory of relativity is the foundation of modern physics, but its unusual postulate of invariant vacuum speed of light results in a number of plausible paradoxes. This situation leads to radical criticisms and suspicions against the theory of relativity. In this paper, from the perspective that the relativity is nothing but a geometry, we give a uniform resolution to some famous and typical paradoxes such as the ladder paradox, the Ehrenfest’s rotational disc paradox. The discussion shows that all the paradoxes are caused by misinterpretation of concepts. We misused the global simultaneity and the principle of relativity. As a geometry of Minkowski space-time, special relativity can never result in a logical contradiction.

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  1. School of Mathematical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Ying-Qiu Gu

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  1. Ying-Qiu Gu
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Gu, YQ. Some Paradoxes in Special Relativity and the Resolutions. Adv. Appl. Clifford Algebras 21, 103–119 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00006-010-0244-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00006-010-0244-6

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