Re: [Phys-l] three central misconceptions about relativity

[Moses Fayngold <moshfarlan@yahoo.com>]

On Friday, October 14, 2011 9:13 AM, John Denker wrote in part:

>  If the two length-computations come out different, there is something
>  desperately wrong with your coordinate systems, or with your notion of
>  relative motion, or your definition of length.

True

>  The t-components will differ from frame to frame, and the x-components
>  will differ from frame to frame... 

True

> but the length is invariant.

Wrong.
 The last quoted statement is is an excellent illustration of the dangers 
associated with upholding the formal abstract part of a theory at the cost 
of its physical meaning. The proper length is not an invariant under 4-rotations.
See arXiv:1001.0088v1 [physics.gen-ph]


Moses Fayngold

NJIT