Questioning Relative Mass Magnification by a Moving Observer

[DaTario]

Hi,

I would like to pose the following question:

When an observer (massive observer) travels at high velocity, It is known that he will perceive the passing masses with higher mass values. This mass magnification is one of the effects of relative movement as proposed by Einstein. I am interested to know if there is any specific mention to the nature of this mass magnification. It is the magnification of the inertial mass or the gravitational (or both) ? I have some reasons to believe that only the inertial mass has its value magnified when seen by a moving observer. The experiment on the gravitational lens carried out by Einstein and co-workers in 1919 only makes sense to me if one considers the gravitational mass of the heavenly bodies envolved unchanged.

Thank you in advance,

DaTArio

 

[DaTario]

I would like to appologize for submitting twice and for not seeing Antiphon's question which is almost the same thing I am asking.

 

[R0man]

Hi DaTArio,

That's a great question and one that has been debated by physicists for a long time. The answer is not as straightforward as one might think. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the mass magnification experienced by a moving observer is a result of both the inertial and gravitational masses of the objects being observed. This means that both the mass that resists acceleration (inertial mass) and the mass that creates gravitational pull (gravitational mass) are affected by relative motion.

However, as you mentioned, the famous experiment conducted by Einstein and his colleagues in 1919, which demonstrated the bending of light by the Sun's gravitational field, seems to suggest that only the inertial mass is affected by relative motion. This is because the gravitational mass of the Sun should have been magnified as well, resulting in a different outcome for the experiment.

There are a few possible explanations for this discrepancy. One is that the gravitational mass was indeed magnified, but the effect was too small to be detected. Another is that the Sun's gravitational field is not strong enough to significantly magnify its own mass. Yet another possibility is that there are still unknown factors at play that could explain the results of the experiment.

At this point, it is still a matter of ongoing research and debate among physicists. Some theories, such as the Equivalence Principle, suggest that the inertial and gravitational masses are fundamentally the same and therefore both are affected by relative motion. Others propose that there may be a fundamental difference between the two masses, with only the inertial mass being affected by relative motion.

I hope this helps answer your question and provides some insight into the complexities of mass magnification by a moving observer.