Even chatgpt is tired. AG, your insistence on ignoring simultaneity while clinging to an incomplete understanding of the problem is fundamentally flawed. Let’s address the core of this once and for all.
1. Relative length alone is not sufficient to define "fit" Yes, the length contraction of the car in the garage’s frame establishes a necessary condition: the car’s contracted length must be less than or equal to the garage’s length for fitting to be possible. But relativity is not classical mechanics—you cannot wave away simultaneity and declare that "fit" is absolute. The sufficient condition for fitting depends on comparing specific events, and that comparison is frame-dependent. 2. Simultaneity defines "fit" in relativity You’ve dismissed simultaneity as irrelevant, but it’s essential. To declare that the car fits, you must determine: Whether the back of the car has passed the entrance at the same time that the front is at or within the exit. In the garage frame, this simultaneity exists, and the car fits. In the car’s frame, the sequence of events is different due to the relativity of simultaneity. Ignoring this distinction is a failure to understand how special relativity fundamentally works. 3. Your claim about synchronized clocks is false Your assertion that "all clocks in any frame can be assumed to be synchronized" is blatantly incorrect in the context of relativity. Synchronization only applies within the same frame, and relativity explicitly demonstrates that different frames have different notions of simultaneity. Pretending otherwise is either deliberate trolling or a refusal to engage with the basic principles of the theory. 4. The real issue This is not about "games" or "courtesy." The issue is your refusal to engage with the central role simultaneity plays in defining the sufficient condition for "fit." Length contraction is only half of the story. By ignoring simultaneity, you’re oversimplifying a relativistic scenario and then claiming it as a valid argument. It’s not. 5. Conclusion Relativity is clear: simultaneity and length contraction together resolve the disagreement between frames. If you insist on treating "fit" as an absolute concept, you’re contradicting the very foundation of special relativity. If this is deliberate trolling, then let’s end the discussion here, because I have no interest in engaging further with bad faith arguments. Le mar. 7 janv. 2025, 14:13, Quentin Anciaux <[email protected]> a écrit : > Chatgpt is your friend, talk to it and convince it you're absolutely right: > > 1. "Fit" as a necessary condition based on relative lengths > > Yes, you're absolutely right that the problem often starts by asserting > the necessary condition: whether the contracted length of the car (from the > garage’s frame) is shorter than or equal to the garage’s length. However, > this necessary condition alone doesn’t resolve the disagreement between > frames—it just establishes whether fitting is possible. > > 2. Why simultaneity is essential to the sufficient condition > > To determine whether the car "actually fits" in the garage, we need to > specify when the comparison is made. That’s where simultaneity becomes > critical. For example: > > In the garage frame: At one specific instant, the back of the car passes > the entrance, and the front is still inside the exit. > > In the car frame: The back of the car passing the entrance and the front > reaching the exit are not simultaneous. > > > Without simultaneity, the "fit" cannot be meaningfully defined because > it’s unclear what events we’re comparing. This isn’t about adding > unnecessary complexity but about adhering to how relativity defines events > across space and time. > > 3. Your point about synchronized clocks > > You mentioned that "all clocks in any frame can be assumed to be > synchronized." This is true only within a single frame. However, in special > relativity, clocks in different frames cannot be universally synchronized > because of the relativity of simultaneity. This is why the two frames > disagree about whether the car "fits" at all. > > Le mar. 7 janv. 2025, 13:21, Alan Grayson <[email protected]> a > écrit : > >> >> >> On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 1:07:25 AM UTC-7 Quentin Anciaux wrote: >> >> I think there is no hope, the sole purpose of a troll is denying and goes >> back circular... so Alan agree to the definition of fits into, then >> disagree abs conclude the bullshit troll idea that he's the genius and SR >> is flawed... we can go on for years only on this stupid 6 years old school >> problem... what a shame. >> >> Le mar. 7 janv. 2025, 08:58, Quentin Anciaux <[email protected]> a >> écrit : >> >> >> >> Le mar. 7 janv. 2025, 07:49, Alan Grayson <[email protected]> a écrit : >> >> >> >> On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 3:27:44 PM UTC-7 Quentin Anciaux wrote: >> >> >> >> Le lun. 6 janv. 2025, 22:58, Alan Grayson <[email protected]> a écrit : >> >> >> >> On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 2:44:56 PM UTC-7 Quentin Anciaux wrote: >> >> Last try. >> >> So as you agreed, the two observers being in different frame, they don't >> share the simultaneity plane. >> >> The key to understanding the situation is that the two observers (the >> person in the garage and the person in the car) don’t share the same idea >> of what events happen at the same time. This is because, in relativity, the >> concept of "simultaneity" depends on the observer’s motion. >> >> What does "fit into the garage" mean? >> >> For the car to "fit into" the garage, we’re asking if: >> >> The back of the car has passed the entrance of the garage and >> >> The front of the car is at, or before, the exit of the garage >> at the same time. >> >> Why is there disagreement? >> >> 1. For the garage’s observer: >> >> The car looks shorter because of Lorentz contraction. >> >> They can say: "At the same time, the back of the car has passed the >> entrance, and the front is at or before the exit." So, for them, the car >> fits. >> >> 2. For the car’s observer: >> >> The garage looks shorter because of Lorentz contraction. >> >> They see events differently. For them, the back of the car passes the >> entrance before the front reaches the exit. So, they say: "The car never >> fits inside the garage." >> >> Why no contradiction? >> >> The disagreement comes from the fact that the two observers don’t share >> the same plane of simultaneity: >> >> In the garage’s frame, the "fit" happens because the events (back passing >> entrance and front at exit) occur simultaneously. >> >> In the car’s frame, those events don’t happen at the same time. The car >> sees the garage’s doors acting at different times to avoid a crash. >> >> Conclusion: >> >> The paradox is resolved because "fitting into the garage" depends on when >> you decide to check if the car fits, and different observers disagree about >> what "at the same time" means. This is a direct result of how special >> relativity changes our understanding of simultaneity. >> >> Quentin >> >> >> *As I've previously stated, the issue, if there is one, is that the >> frames disagree about whether the car fits in the garage, not when it fits, >> or how good or bad the fit is. This is obvious from length contraction >> alone, that the frames disagree. This fact is unchanged by the disagreement >> about simultaneity. So if you or anyone want to use the disagreement on >> simultaneity and length contraction, to put some numbers on this problem, >> that's fine. But it shouldn't be concluded that the underlying enigma has >> been solved. AG* >> >> >> The confusion here seems to stem from treating "fits" as if it were an >> absolute property, independent of the observer's frame of reference. >> However, in the context of special relativity, "fits" is not absolute, it’s >> inherently dependent on the observer's definition of simultaneity. >> >> Here’s why: >> >> 1. The concept of "fits" requires simultaneity: >> >> >> *It does not.* >> >> >> *I was referring to the initial condition of the problem where it is >> asserted that fit, or not, depends solely on the relative lengths of car >> and garage. It's what called in mathematics **the necessary condition. >> There is no mention of simultaneity. I explained this previously but you >> deliberately ignored it. Of course, what you copied below with large font >> in blue, and what I agreed to, and still do, is specific to a particular >> circumstance, also known in this context as the sufficient** condition. >> OTOH, it's obvious that when fitting cannot occur, say if the car is longer >> than the garage, the end points of the car can be simultaneous, since all >> clocks in any frame can be assumed to be synchronized. The sad part of this >> exchange is that you just want to play games, indulged in name-calling -- >> not really trying to understand my pov. I see I made a mistake in being >> polite to you. You're unworthy of basic courtesy. AG* >> >> *The initial condition of the problem is that the car's length is greater >> than the garage's length, from whence it is concluded the car won't fit. No >> mention or use of simutaneity. When the car is in motion, the changes in >> lengths are calculated using the LT and are not frame independent. Consider >> this exercise; choose the speed of the car such that it perfectly fits in >> the garage from the garage's frame. Place an observer in garage frame at >> the entrance to the garage, and an observer in the car frame at the rear >> end of the car. When the car perfectly fits in the garage, the former >> observer will observe the car's rear end at entrance to the garage, within >> the garage. OTOH, since that car doesn't fit in the garage from the car's >> frame, the latter observer will observe the rear end of car clearly outside >> the garage. Since the same car is being observed by both observers, they >> must observe the same thing, but they don't. This seems to be a flaw in SR >> since simultaneity is not involved. It's only relevant when comparing a >> pair of simultaneous events in one frame, with a pair of events in another >> frame, which is not the situation in this exercise. AG* >> >> >> For the car to "fit" in the garage, you need to compare two events: (1) >> the back of the car passing the entrance and (2) the front of the car being >> at or before the exit. Whether these two events happen "at the same time" >> depends on the observer’s frame of reference. >> >> The disagreement about simultaneity between the two frames directly leads >> to a disagreement about whether the car fits. It’s not just an added >> detail—it’s fundamental. >> >> 2. Length contraction alone doesn’t explain the full scenario: >> >> Yes, length contraction makes the car appear shorter in the garage’s >> frame and the garage appear shorter in the car’s frame. But without >> simultaneity, "fits" remains undefined because it depends on when you >> compare the positions of the car’s front and back relative to the garage. >> >> 3. There’s no "underlying enigma" left to solve: >> >> The disagreement between frames is entirely explained by relativity: the >> garage’s observer uses their simultaneity to conclude the car fits, >> >> >> *In any frame, the clocks are (or can be) synchronized, so the ends of >> the car can be synchronized even when the car doesn't fit in the garage. AG* >> >> >> while the car’s observer uses a different simultaneity to conclude it >> doesn’t. Both are correct within their own frames. This is not a paradox, >> it’s how spacetime works. >> >> 4. "Fits" cannot be absolute: >> >> If you’re treating "fits" as a frame-independent property, >> >> >> *I am not. AG* >> >> >> you’re implicitly ignoring the core of special relativity, where space >> and time are not absolute. This perspective is incompatible with the theory. >> >> In short: The disagreement about simultaneity is not a side effect, it’s >> the very reason frames disagree about whether the car fits. To claim the >> problem is unsolved is to misunderstand how relativity defines spatial >> relationships and simultaneity. >> >> Quentin >> >> >> Le lun. 6 janv. 2025, 22:37, Quentin Anciaux <[email protected]> a >> écrit : >> >> A troll feels absolutely no shame. >> >> >> >> Le lun. 6 janv. 2025, 22:25, Alan Grayson <[email protected]> a écrit : >> >> >> >> On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 11:46:52 AM UTC-7 Alan Grayson wrote: >> >> On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 3:11:47 AM UTC-7 Alan Grayson wrote: >> >> On Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 10:02:28 PM UTC-7 Alan Grayson wrote: >> >> On Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 9:43:47 PM UTC-7 Brent Meeker wrote: >> >> On 1/5/2025 7:44 PM, Alan Grayson wrote: >> > You claim there is no objective fact. The car fitted in the garage. >> > But that's only from the garage frame. >> If it's from only one frame and not another, that's the definition of >> "not objective". It's not fact. It's subjective perception. >> >> Brent >> >> >> You truncated my statement. You showed the car fits in one frame >> and not the other (the car frame). The paradox is based on the belief >> that this is impossible. Disproving this belief is required to resolve >> the paradox. AG >> >> >> *Here is something to consider to prove what I believe needs to be >> proven;* >> *that the two frames under consideration are not in relative motion as >> the* >> *case of two inertial frames in empty space where nothing exists other >> than* >> *these two frames. In the paradox the car is in real detectable motion if >> one* >> *views its background, whereas the garage is fixed by the same >> observation.* >> *In fact, the garage and its surroundings can be considered a rigid body >> from* >> *the pov of the car frame, entirely in motion, not just the garage. I do >> not say* >> *t**his will work in possibly eliminating the relative motion of garage >> from * >> *the pov of the car frame and thus resolving the paradox, but it's a >> possibility* >> *worth **considering. AG * >> >> >> *Maybe you can explain this: we started with an apparent paradox based on >> length* >> *contraction. Then, to allegedly resolve it, several MB members including >> yourself, * >> *applied both length contraction and disagreement about simultaneity to >> get the* >> *SAME result which was patently obvious with nothing more than length >> contraction.* >> *At which point victory was declared; the alleged paradox was resolved! >> Praise the* >> *Lord! Can you tell me what I'm missing? And please; don't tell me that >> adding doors* >> *on the garage was needed or necessary. Without those doors it was >> obvious that* >> *the frames would disagree about whether the car would fit at some high >> speed. * >> *Maybe Jesse and Quentin could explain this as well. TY, AG* >> >> >> *I'd also like to hear from Clark on this issue. He was another great >> advocate of putting* >> *doors on the garage and thinking the problem was solved. As I see it, >> all that's been * >> *accomplished is to put some numbers on the problem, to calculate how >> good the fit* >> *is or isn't, without touching on the underlying problem. As for >> falsifying relativity, that's* >> *definitely not my preference. It seems to have worked for more than a >> century, so it's* >> *highly likely to be correct. But when all the experts here give their >> opinions, ISTM that * >> *none **are in the ballpark of actually shedding light on this problem. >> Of course, we can* >> *always adopt the "shut up and calculate" pov and conclude that that's >> what SR says, and * >> *be done with it. So, Clark, what do you think? AG * >> >> >> > It doesn't fit from the car frame, regardless of the doors, which IMO >> > can be dispensed with. So, as I see it, the paradox follows from the >> > belief that there can't be disagreement about what the frames >> > conclude. Isn't this the claim that must be disproven to resolve the >> > paradox, and a constructive proof that the frames disagree using the >> > LT is insufficient? AG >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Everything List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/63ae4f0f-baed-4e87-923c-24a36df28b3fn%40googlegroups.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/63ae4f0f-baed-4e87-923c-24a36df28b3fn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/CAMW2kAqef9vrQNeHo%3DjRUH71FQ9viu2GSWxKFe07rkK_LYMZhA%40mail.gmail.com.
