On Bell's dynamical route to special relativity

2025/06/30 by Frederick W. Strauch, Strauch, Frederick W.
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics and Sensor Technology #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Relativity and Gravitational Theory

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2506.23450

openalex publication_date 2025/06/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

This paper develops the approach to special relativity put forward by John S. Bell. The classical dynamics of an electron orbiting a nucleus in uniform motion is solved analytically and compared to numerical simulations for an accelerated nucleus. The relativistic phenomena of length contraction and time dilation are shown to result from the electric and magnetic forces on the electron when its motion is analyzed in a single frame of reference. The relevance of these results for understanding the theory of special relativity is discussed.

Citations

• Special Relativity from the Dynamical Viewpoint
• Minkowski space-time: a glorious non-entity
• A study of Henri Poincar�'s ?Sur la Dynamique de l'�lectron?

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