Author: Lars Frølund Jensen
Affiliation: Independent Researcher, Holstebro, Denmark
Email: [email protected]
Journal: International Journal of Fundamental Physical Sciences
ISSN: 2231-8186
Volume: 15, Issue: 1, Pages: 5–9
Publication Date: March 2025
DOI: 10.14331/ijfps.2025.330171
Special Relativity (SR) incorporates the concept of length contraction as a coordinate-dependent and symmetrical effect. According to SR, two observers in relative motion, each equipped with identical measuring rods, can both validly assert that the other's rod appears contracted. This paper challenges the physical interpretation of this principle by presenting a series of simplified thought experiments. These experiments reveal contradictions within SR, suggesting that the theory predicts two fundamentally different types of length contraction when applied to real-world scenarios. The results call for a critical reassessment of the role of length contraction in SR and invite further exploration of its theoretical consistency and implications for modern physics.
special relativity, length contraction, symmetry
License: CC BY-NC