English

Three +1 Faces of Invariance

General Physics 2021-02-23 v2 Classical Physics

Abstract

A careful look at an allegedly well-known century-old concept reveals interesting aspects in it that have generally avoided recognition in literature. There are four different kinds of physical observables known or proclaimed as relativistic invariants under space-time rotations. Only observables in the first three categories are authentic invariants, whereas the single "invariant" - proper length - in the fourth category is actually not an invariant. The proper length has little is anything to do with proper distance which is a true invariant. On the other hand, proper distance, proper time, and rest mass have more in common than usually recognized, and particularly, mass - time analogy opens another view of the twin paradox.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1001.0088,
  title  = {Three +1 Faces of Invariance},
  author = {Moses Fayngold},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1001.0088},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

18 pages, 5 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T14:29:46.816Z