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Volume 16: Pages 174-179, 2003

The Self‐Consistency of the Kinematics of Special Relativity, Part V(B)

I. J. Good

1309 Lynn Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060‐3001 U.S.A.

The swings‐and‐roundabouts theorem, related to clock paradoxes in special relativity, is here proved more briefly. The proof is based on a new necessary supposition. A simple and interesting consequence is derived for curved paths. The theorem shows what a general theory of relativity needs to establish so as to explain the paradoxes from the point of view of the traveler, in order to be consistent with the special theory. The invariance of four‐dimensional volume is proved in an elementary manner.

Keywords: clock paradoxes, empirico‐dissidents, equilag requirement, four‐dimensional volume, general relativity question, invariance of four‐dimensional volume, lag accumulation, logico‐dissidents, swings‐and‐roundabouts theorem

Received: July 17, 2001; Published online: December 15, 2008