Educación

 

The four particles paradox in special relativity

 

J.M. García-Islas

 

Departamento de Física Matemática, Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 20-726, 01000, México DF, México, e-mail: jmgislas@iimas.unam.mx

 

Received 22 May 2014;
accepted 22 October 2014

 

Abstract

We present a novel paradox in special relativity together with its solution. We call it the four particles paradox. The purpose of this paradox is pedagogical and therefore directed towards students and lecturers of physics. Even if most paradoxes in special relativity theory are very interrelated and some are special cases of others, the paradox we present here is original and illuminates on the very nice subject and the literature of special relativity.

Keywords: Special relativity; length contraction; paradox; general physics.

 

PACS: 03.30.+p; 01.55.+b

 

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