What happens when two length contracted ladders move through the same garage?

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This discussion focuses on the relativistic effects observed when two length-contracted ladders move through the same garage. It highlights the paradox arising from the simultaneous entry of both ladders in the garage frame versus the ladder frame. The key conclusion is that the faster ladder spends less time inside the garage, leading to a contradiction regarding their simultaneous entry and exit, which is incompatible across the two frames of reference. This scenario illustrates the complexities of relativistic physics and the implications of length contraction.

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kmarinas86 said:
Figure 4: Scenario in the garage frame: a length contracted ladder entering and exiting the garage
250px-Ladder_Paradox_GarageScenario.svg.png


Figure 5: Scenario in the ladder frame: a length contracted garage passing over the ladder
250px-Ladder_Paradox_LadderScenario.svg.png

So what happens if we have TWO ladders moving in opposite directions through the same garage?

Figure 4: Scenario in the garage frame: a length contracted ladder entering and exiting the garage

attachment.php?attachmentid=44017&stc=1&d=1329437190.png


Figure 5: Scenario in the ladder frame: a length contracted garage passing over the ladder

attachment.php?attachmentid=44018&stc=1&d=1329437190.png


Something's amiss.

How, in the last diagram, does the second ladder (the one faster than garage) spend LESS time inside the garage so that (unlike as depicted in the last diagram) the faster ladder doesn't hit the doors of the garage.
 

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  • 250px-(DOUBLE)Ladder_Paradox_LadderScenario.svg.png
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In Fig 5 you have both ladders entering simultaneously. That's incompatible with them entering simultaneously in Fig 4. (Ditto exiting.)
 
DrGreg said:
In Fig 5 you have both ladders entering simultaneously. That's incompatible with them entering simultaneously in Fig 4. (Ditto exiting.)

Thanks.
 

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