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The relativistically rigid rod

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

J. E. Hogarth  and
W. H. McCrea
J. E. Hogarth
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway CollegeEnglefield Green, Surrey
W. H. McCrea
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway CollegeEnglefield Green, Surrey
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Abstract

A relativistically rigid rod is defined as one along which any disturbance travels with the fundamental speed c without dissipation of energy. A necessary consequence of this definition is that the rod should satisfy a certain ‘equation of elasticity’. If this equation is satisfied, it is shown in accordance with relativistic mechanics that a disturbance of any amplitude is propagated along the (unstressed or stressed) rod with speed c and without dissipation. Consequently, the equation provides also a sufficient condition for rigidity in the sense defined.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , October 1952 , pp. 616 - 624
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Philosophical Society 1952

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References

REFERENCES

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