Understanding SR: A Travelling Observer & Photons

In summary, the conversation revolves around understanding SR and the postulates related to measuring the speed of light. The first postulate discusses the measurement of a photon's speed by a person on a machine emitting the photon and an outside observer. The second postulate states that all inertial frames measure the speed of light to be constant at c, regardless of the observer's velocity. It is noted that the addition of velocities works differently in SR compared to Newtonian physics, and each observer uses their own system of measurement. The conversation ends with a thank you for the clarification.
  • #1
EV33
196
0
I am currently trying to understand SR and am confused on this postulate.

Lets say somone is traveling on a some kind of machine that emits photons. When that photon is emited will the person traveling on the machine measure the photon going c or will they measure it going c-v? My next question is will an outside observer view the photon as going c or c+v? I'm guessing that the person on the machine will measure it as c-v and the stationary observer will measure it as c but I am not sure.
 
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  • #2
The second postulate says all inertial frames measure all light wave to be moving at c, no inertial observer will ever measure a light wave to be moving at c+v or c-v. It might help to point out that addition of velocities doesn't work the same way in SR as it does in Newtonian physics. Also, keep in mind that each observer is using their own system of rulers and clocks to measure distance over time for a light wave, and each observer says that other observer's rulers are shrunk and that their clocks are slowed-down and out-of-sync (I gave a little numerical example of how these effects come together to ensure they each measure the same speed of c for a light wave in post #5 of this thread)
 
  • #3
Thank you for the help.
 

What is the theory of special relativity?

The theory of special relativity, or SR, is a fundamental theory in physics that explains the relationship between space and time. It was developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century and has been extensively tested and confirmed through experiments and observations.

What is a travelling observer?

A travelling observer is an object or person that is moving relative to another object or reference point. In the context of special relativity, the observer's motion affects their perception of time and space, leading to the phenomenon of time dilation and length contraction.

What are photons?

Photons are the fundamental particles of light. They have zero mass and travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. They can also exhibit wave-like properties and are responsible for electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, radio waves, and X-rays.

How does special relativity impact the perception of time and space?

Special relativity predicts that time and space are not absolute, but are relative to the observer's frame of reference. This means that the passage of time and the measurement of distances can appear differently to observers moving at different speeds. This phenomenon is known as time dilation and length contraction.

What are some real-world applications of special relativity?

Special relativity has many practical applications, including GPS technology, particle accelerators, and nuclear power. It also helps to explain various phenomena in the universe, such as the behavior of stars and galaxies, and the formation of black holes.

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