- #1
Phymath
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I'm trying to get a physical intuition for length contraction (oxy moron) however is there any type of quantitative way of proving it? time dilation totally makes mathematical and physical sense to me, however length does not other then i ask does this basicly describe it:
If both observers (one stationary one moving w.r.t. the other) agree on the velocity of the moving frame and both agree that the moving observer reaches the same point in space yet they both do no agree on the time of the trip the only way that can be true is if in the moving frame the distance was shorter and thus contracted...
mathematically:
if O denotes the stationary frame and O' the moving frame then the distance traveled measured in O of the moving frame should be...
D = vt while in the moving frame D' = vt', t' = t sqrt(1- v^2/c^2)
D' = v t sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) -> D' = D sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) however this is not correct it should be D' = D/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) where might my error occur?
If both observers (one stationary one moving w.r.t. the other) agree on the velocity of the moving frame and both agree that the moving observer reaches the same point in space yet they both do no agree on the time of the trip the only way that can be true is if in the moving frame the distance was shorter and thus contracted...
mathematically:
if O denotes the stationary frame and O' the moving frame then the distance traveled measured in O of the moving frame should be...
D = vt while in the moving frame D' = vt', t' = t sqrt(1- v^2/c^2)
D' = v t sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) -> D' = D sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) however this is not correct it should be D' = D/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) where might my error occur?