Would a moving scale read more than a scale at rest?

  • Thread starter Isaiah Gray
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In summary, while the mass of a moving object does increase according to the principle of relativity, the mass of the scale itself will not change. Therefore, the scale will read the same amount for a moving object as it would for an object at rest. However, there may be limitations in using a spring scale for relativistic experiments.
  • #1
Isaiah Gray
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Assuming there is a mass on a scale, and they move with the same velocity. I know mass increases for a moving object, but the scale's mass will also increase. So would the scale read any more than if they were both at rest?
 
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  • #2
No. This is the principle of relativity itself.
 
  • #3
According to the scale the mass is at rest, so no the scale will not read any more.
 
  • #4
Suppose the scale has a display that reads 1.0000 kg for a certain object, when you're at rest with respect to the scale (e.g. standing next to it in the laboratory). Now imagine running past the scale at 0.9c. Surely the reading is still 1.0000 kg.
 
  • #5
Maybe the OP is thinking that if you run by the scale at 0.9c you would expect to observe a relativistic mass increase of the mass on the scale, the scale itself, and the Earth for that matter such that if the scale was a spring scale the indicator would shift reading due to additional compression between the mass on the scale and the Earth under the scale.

Something tells me that there may be a problem with using a spring scale here... similar to the way relativistic experiments need to exclude certain forms of clocks like pendulum clocks?
 

1. Why would a moving scale read more than a scale at rest?

A moving scale would read more than a scale at rest because of the effects of inertia. Inertia is the tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion. When the scale is in motion, the objects on it also have this motion, causing them to exert a greater force on the scale and thus giving a higher reading.

2. Does the speed of the scale affect the reading?

Yes, the speed of the scale does affect the reading. The faster the scale is moving, the greater the inertia of the objects on it and the higher the reading will be.

3. How does the mass of the objects on the scale impact the reading?

The mass of the objects on the scale does not directly impact the reading. However, the more massive the objects are, the greater their inertia and the higher the reading will be due to the effects of inertia.

4. Could other factors, such as air resistance, affect the reading of the moving scale?

Yes, other factors such as air resistance can affect the reading of a moving scale. Air resistance is a force that acts against the motion of objects and can cause a slight decrease in the reading of the scale. However, this effect is usually negligible for most everyday objects and speeds.

5. Is the reading of a moving scale always higher than a scale at rest?

No, the reading of a moving scale is not always higher than a scale at rest. If the scale is moving at a constant velocity, the reading will remain the same as a scale at rest. It is only when there is acceleration involved that the reading will be higher due to the effects of inertia.

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