Exercise for Students: Incorrect Special Relativity Analysis

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a proposed exercise for students involving special relativity, where participants are encouraged to derive an incorrect answer to a textbook problem and argue against the textbook's solution or claim inconsistencies in their own reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests selecting a problem from a textbook and intentionally deriving a different answer, questioning the validity of the textbook's solution.
  • Another participant humorously advises against posting such analyses on the forum, implying a concern for the appropriateness of the exercise.
  • A later reply notes that posting such an exercise on April 1 would have been acceptable, indicating a playful context for the discussion.
  • Another participant comments on the timing of the thread's initiation, referencing the complications of synchronizing clocks across different time zones, which relates to the principles of special relativity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the appropriateness of the exercise or the implications of special relativity, with humor and timing considerations being central to the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes elements of humor and timing that may affect the interpretation of the exercise, as well as the implications of different observers in special relativity, which remain unresolved.

pervect
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Based on an incorrect understanding of special relativity

a) Pick a problem from a textbook, and come up with a different answer than the textbook does.

Additionally, do one or both of the following:

b1) Argue that the textbook answer is wrong and you are right

b2) Argue that there is an inconsistency in your solution, and use this inconsistency to demonstrate that "special relativity is bunk".

Extra credit is awarded if the textbook has a typo, and actually IS wrong.
 
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...but, please, don't post it here on PF! :biggrin:
 
vanhees71 said:
...but, please, don't post it here on PF! :biggrin:

I think posting it on April 1 would have been OK. Which makes it too late for any entries this year.
 
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pervect said:
I think posting it on April 1 would have been OK. Which makes it too late for any entries this year.
In the time zone where I live, you began this thread on 2 April, which was already too late! (The dangers of different observers sychronising their clocks differently!)
 
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