TL;DR
This paper resolves Sears' paradox in special relativity by demonstrating that the laws of mechanics apply to a rigid body only in its rest frame, explaining why impulsive forces do not alter its velocity when moving.
Contribution
It clarifies the application of classical mechanics laws to relativistic rigid bodies, resolving a longstanding paradox in special relativity.
Findings
Rigid body laws apply only in the rest frame.
Impulsive forces do not change velocity in the body's rest frame.
The paradox is resolved by frame-dependent analysis.
Abstract
We resolve a paradox in special relativity proposed by F. W. Sears for the action of forces on a rigid body. In the paradox, a moving rigid rod is struck at different times by impulsive forces, but continues to move with unchanged velocity, with the forces having no effect. Our conclusion is that the usual laws of mechanics can be applied to a rigid body only in its rest system
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Taxonomy
TopicsExperimental and Theoretical Physics Studies · Relativity and Gravitational Theory · Computational Physics and Python Applications