Single-Particle Electrodynamics - Assassination Science

Chapter 3
Relativistically Rigid Bodies
We envisage a rigid sphere—that is, a body possessing spherical form
when examined at rest—of radius R, . . .
—— A. Einstein (1905) [75]
3.1 Introduction
The Special Theory of Relativity was only four sections old when those words
were written (translated here [78] from the German, of course). Einstein’s
seminal work [75] is arguably one of the most carefully thought-out papers
in the history of Physics. If he himself used a relativistically rigid sphere,
then it must be an acceptable construct.
If only it were that simple. Numerous myths have arisen, over the years,
about what the theory of relativity does and does not say about the notion
of rigidity. It will be necessary for the author to bring the fictional nature of
some of these old wives’ tales to the attention of the reader, as the author
would like to use just such an object in his considerations.
We shall also derive quantitative relations for the constituents of such
rigid bodies, that will be of vital importance in the following chapters.
100