From: helbig@asclothestro.multivax.de   
      
   In article <45120854-8647-4c78-99a5-5c2b0839a0eb@googlegroups.com>,   
   Nicolaas Vroom  writes:   
      
   > The LHC ring has a length of 27 km. Suppose I build a track within   
   > that ring and on the track I place 270 trains of each 100 meter.   
   > The trains are marked #1 to #270. The train #1 is the leader.   
   > All the trains are started and all the operators are asked to touch   
   > the train before him. The speed increases.   
   > My question is will it be possible to insert more trains in the ring.   
   > If there is length contraction then there should be space between   
   > the end of train #270 and the front of train #1.   
      
   Here's a different spin (pun intended) on this:   
      
   Instead of 270 trains, place 135 trains on the track, spaced   
   equidistantly.  In other words, pairs of trains are separated by a space   
   equal to the length of a train.  Same argument as above, but don't   
   regard the trains---regard the spaces.  Shouldn't they also contract?   
   If not why not?   
      
   No serious person claims that "length contraction" is some physical   
   effect with regard to the material of the object or whatever.  This   
   should be obvious from the fact that it depends only on the frame of   
   reference.  Thus, it shouldn't make any difference whether I use the   
   front and back of a train as a fiducial length, or the front and back of   
   a gap between trains.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)