Losing energy in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38 (1):170-180 (2007)
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Abstract

A Zenonian supertask involving an infinite number of colliding balls is considered, under the restriction that the total mass of all the balls is finite. Classical mechanics leads to the conclusion that momentum, but not necessarily energy, must be conserved. Relativistic mechanics, on the other hand, implies that energy and momentum conservation are always violated. Quantum mechanics, however, seems to rule out the Zeno configuration as an inconsistent system.

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original Atkinson, David (2006) "Losing energy in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics". Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38(1):170-180

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Citations of this work

Supertasks.J. B. Manchak & Bryan W. Roberts - 2022 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Supertasks.Jon Pérez Laraudogoitia - 2008 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Achilles, the Tortoise, and Colliding Balls.Jeanne Peijnenburg & David Atkinson - 2008 - History of Philosophy Quarterly 25 (3):187 - 201.

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