Understanding the Detonator Paradox: A Relativity-Based Explanation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Detonator Paradox, which involves a U-shaped figure and a T-shaped figure with a bomb button located at the bottom of the U. The standard interpretation asserts that the bomb detonates due to the relativistic effect where the T's end hits the button before the U's legs collide. However, the discussion reveals that in different reference frames, the sequence of events can appear reversed, demonstrating the relativity of simultaneity. This paradox highlights the complexities of causality in relativistic physics.

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  • Understanding of special relativity principles
  • Familiarity with the concept of reference frames
  • Knowledge of causality in physics
  • Basic comprehension of the speed of light as a universal constant
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  • Study the relativity of simultaneity in detail
  • Explore the implications of causality in relativistic scenarios
  • Learn about the Lorentz transformations and their applications
  • Investigate other paradoxes in special relativity, such as the Twin Paradox
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This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the complexities of special relativity and its paradoxes.

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there's this problem in my book that talks about the detonator paradox, where there's one U shaped figure and one T shaped figure and there's a button for a bomb at the bottom of the U shaped figure, and the question is if the 2 figures go toward each other so that they fit, will there be a detonation. well the standard answer to this is that it will detonate because in the refrence frame where the bomb does not detonate, the end of the T will continue moving and hit the button since forces only move at the speed of light, so the bomb will detonate.
However i looked at the other refrence frame and noticed that in the RF of the U structure, the legs of the U will collide with the legs of the T before the button is pressed while in the RF of the T, the legs of the T collide with the legs of the U after the button is pressed. could someone explain this for me?
 
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Since the two events--(1) bottom of T hitting the button and (2) top of T hitting U structure--are not causally linked* there's no problem in different frames seeing them occur in different order. (The relativity of simultaneity at work.)

*By that I mean that one event is not the "cause" of the other.
 
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You haven't explained the problem very well. Also, you've misrepresented the solution (there is no "refrance from where the bomb does not detonate").
 

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