Motion and the Warping of Space

In summary, a stationary observer measuring an object in (very fast) motion would determine the object to be shorter in the direction of travel due to the increased mass of the object and the warping of space-time. This is caused by the constant speed of light and is hard for those new to relativity to accept.
  • #1
daisey
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I was reading that a stationary observer measuring an object in (very fast) motion would determine the object to be shorter in the direction of travel, compared to the size of that object measured at rest. What actually causes this difference from the perspective of the observer?

Does the fast moving object appear shorter to the observer because the object is actually traveling a shorter distance because of the warped space the object is traveling through? :confused:

Daisey
 
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  • #2
If a man is traveling in a spaceship and it is moving with the speed of relative to c, then several changes will occur.
For the guy in the ship, the space is appear to be bending towards it or in other words you can say that the distance is shortening for him. this will happen because of the increasement of mass of the ship at the speed relative to c (space-time fibre wraps the ship around it).
But for you, Daisey(who is watching the ship from her rooftops) the space didn't shortens but spaceship itself shortens in the direction of motion.
the cause of this is simple but hard to accept for the new ones in relativity and for those who still have problems with the constant speed of light in all reference frames.
yes, because of the constant speed of light i.e. 3,00,000 km/sec.
 

1. What is the concept of motion and the warping of space?

The concept of motion and the warping of space is based on Einstein's theory of general relativity. It describes how objects with mass can cause a distortion in the fabric of space-time, resulting in the effect of gravity. This means that the presence of mass can curve the path of objects, causing them to move in a different manner than they would in a flat, unwarped space.

2. How does the warping of space affect our understanding of motion?

The warping of space affects our understanding of motion by showing that gravity is not a force acting between objects, but rather a result of the curvature of space-time caused by the presence of mass. This means that the motion of objects is not solely determined by the forces acting upon them, but also by the curvature of space-time caused by the objects themselves.

3. Can the warping of space be observed in everyday life?

Yes, the warping of space can be observed in everyday life. For example, the orbit of planets around the sun and the motion of stars in a galaxy are both affected by the warping of space caused by the objects' masses. Additionally, the bending of light by massive objects, known as gravitational lensing, is another observable effect of the warping of space.

4. How does the concept of motion and the warping of space impact space travel?

The concept of motion and the warping of space has a significant impact on space travel. It explains why objects in space follow curved paths instead of straight lines, and it also affects the way spacecraft and satellites move in orbit. Understanding the warping of space is crucial for accurately predicting and planning trajectories for space missions.

5. Is the warping of space the same as time dilation?

No, the warping of space and time dilation are two different concepts. Time dilation refers to the slowing down of time for an object in motion relative to another object, as predicted by Einstein's theory of special relativity. The warping of space, on the other hand, refers to the curvature of space-time caused by the presence of mass. While they are related, they are not the same phenomenon.

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