Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site hou2g.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!hou2g!stekas From: stekas@hou2g.UUCP (J.STEKAS) Newsgroups: net.physics Subject: Relativistic Paradox problem Message-ID: <168@hou2g.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-Feb-84 11:53:50 EST Article-I.D.: hou2g.168 Posted: Mon Feb 13 11:53:50 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 15-Feb-84 05:43:51 EST Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 31 Ok, the no paper/no pencil problem was too easy. Consider the following paradox. Suppose arrows of length L are fired through a tube of slightly shorter length. If the arrows are fired at a high enough velocity, they will be sufficiently Lorentz contracted to be completely contained within the tube. Therefore, one should be able to take a photo of the tube while the arrow was completely inside it, and none of the arrow showing. ________________________________ >--------ARROW------------> ________________________________ But using the same arguement, form the arrows point of view it is the the TUBE which is Lorentz contracted. Therefore, any picture of the arrow passing through the tube should show it sticking out the end. ______________________ >---------ARROW--------------> ______________________ What would the picture show? If this isn't a paradox, how does one reconcile the two points of view? Jim