What is Observer: Definition and 322 Discussions

The Observer is a British newspaper published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its sister papers The Guardian and The Guardian Weekly, whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993, it takes a social liberal or social democratic line on most issues. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.

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  1. T

    How Does Observer Velocity Affect Sound Wavefront Frequency?

    Homework Statement A source of sound emits waves at a frequency f 450 Hz. An observer is located at a distance d 150 m from the source. If the observer is moving away from the source at a velocity vobs 40 m/s, how does the number of wavefronts change with time? dN/dt ? (in Hz)...
  2. B

    Could the hidden variables be encoded in the observer?

    Could the "hidden variables" be encoded in the observer? The hidden variables that have been proposed to dictate the action of quantum outcomes, Could they be in observer dependent as opposed to encoded in the particle? We know the observer is an integral part of the process. Has this...
  3. E

    Finding The Distance Between An Observer and Light Source

    Homework Statement We are given that a light-bulb radiates 0.1 W from it, and the wavelength of light emitted from it is 530 nm. Seeing as the human eye requires around 6 photons per second for the brain to register a light signal. I am then asked, what is the largest possible distance...
  4. T

    Double slit: Human vs Machine Observer

    Would someone help me to understand what would happen in this situation. w→ x→ (y)→ z Photon emitter is at point w emitting photons one at a time. Double slit is at point x. Screen is at point z. There is a detector at point y (after photon has already passed through slits) which is capable...
  5. E

    Values of Right Ascension which are best for an observer

    What values of right ascension are best for viewing by an observer at 40 degrees north latitude in January? I found this problem in the "Introduction for the Modern Astrophysics". I'm stuck with this problem because I don't know how to relate the right ascension and latitude.
  6. K

    What qualifies as an observer in quantum mechanics?

    I'm studying quantum mechanics and I can't seem to understand what qualifies as an observer. Does the "observer" need to be a conscious one? Yes or no and why? Thanks in advance :)
  7. WannabeNewton

    Proper Reference Frame -Accelerated observer

    "Proper Reference Frame"-Accelerated observer Hi guys. This is regarding section 13.6 (p.327) in MTW. Here the authors consider an arbitrary accelerated observer in any space-time and construct a set of local coordinates carried along the entire worldline of the oberver with the origin of the...
  8. I

    Does the Observer have anything to do with conscious choice

    I have seen many programs on Quantum Physics suggesting that we are the Observer that causes the collapse of the wave function. When I look into the experiments it seems more like the thing that causes the collapse of the wave function is other waves smashing into them. For instance in the...
  9. G

    Time slowing down due to speed relative to the observer

    Hi all, Please forgive my simplistic understanding on this, as I am a novice with an interest in Science, but I have the following question: I've been reading a book on Einstein, and here's the stuff I get: Speed is relative since there is nothing to "fix" a grid to which we know to be...
  10. sergiokapone

    Distances between planet and observer near BH

    Imagine that we have a system that consists of a massive black hole, and the asteroid revolving around it on a stable orbit. What method can determine the distance to these asteroids observer who is still close to the event horizon? The first thing that came to mind is to determine the signal...
  11. 7

    Observer S' on a rocket vs an observer S on Earth

    This is a basic question regarding Lorentz transformations. Let's say we have two observers - S on Earth and S' which we put on a rocket headed for Alpha Centauri (A.C) =). If i choose 2 events like this: rocket leaves Earth rocket arrives on A.C These two events clearly do not...
  12. A

    Doppler Effect (Sound) - Source moving away from the Observer

    Hi! I was doing some exercises about the doppler effect on sound until I found this problem that I can't find the solution! "A source of sound of frequency f0 moves horizontally at constant speed u in the x direction at a distance h above the ground. An observer is situated on the ground at...
  13. M

    Minkowski diagram, what does observer see.

    Suppose we have a spacetime diagram like this: Red lines indicating light travel from the moving object to the observer. Object is moving at the speed of 0.8c. At this speed we have: Lorentz factor 1/√(1 - v2/c2)=1/0.6=1.66(6) Relativistic Doppler effect √((1 + β) / (1 - β)) = 3 My question...
  14. J

    What is the minimum observer energy?

    Question: Suppose I want to measure the polarity of a photon. What is the minimum amount of energy I need to invest? What are the needed forms? (Examples might include rest mass for storage devices, energy in interacting particles, etc.) I'm looking for an ideal device. Background: I have a...
  15. bcrowell

    What Ingredients Can Make an Observer?

    I apologize if this is ill defined or overly speculative. As far as we know, mass is a permanent characteric of all particles, so we have three disjoint possible categories of particles: bradyons (particles with timelike world-lines), luxons (lightlike world-lines), and tachyons (spacelike)...
  16. A.T.

    Black Hole : Infalling Observer looking back

    What blue shift of distant light would you observe, while free falling into a black hole. It seems that hovering at the horizon (which is not possible), would result in infinite blue shift. But what about the observed blue shift in free fall, as a function of the radial Schwarzschild coordinate?
  17. 1977ub

    Freely Falling Inertial As Seen By Distant Inertial Observer

    Apologies if this is in a FAQ somewhere. A is out in deep space. B is falling toward the planet. Does A need both SR & GR to calculate B's time/space dilation as determine by A's IRF?
  18. M

    Defining Emitter vs Observer for Schwarzschild Metric

    Let's say we are working with the Schwarzschild metric and we have an emitter of light falling into a Schwarzschild black hole. Suppose we define the quantity u=t- v where dv/dr= 1/(1-r_{s}/r) where r_s is the Schwarzschild radius. What is the u as observed by the emitter? I just need a...
  19. N

    Understanding Pole Speed in Digital Control System Design

    When designing a State Observer for a control system the observer poles (eig(A-LC)) should typically be about 10 times faster than the controller poles (eig(A-BK)). But when designing a digital control system what does it mean for the poles to be faster? For the analog case it simply means...
  20. marellasunny

    Schrodinger's Cat, Structures and the Observer Effect

    I am not a theoretical physicist but I have heard of Schrodinger's cat. It is a fact that stresses and strains measured along a structure are directional i.e the stresses and strains vary according to the direction you orient your strain gauge in. Does this have any connection with the 'observer...
  21. C

    Universal Central Observer: Doubling Speed of Light Separation

    If Galaxy A drifts apart from Galaxy B with twice the speed of light then how could a Galaxy C next to Galaxy A drift apart from Galaxy A at a similar speed? edit: PS. Wouldn't that need some kind of "universal central observer" to limit Galaxy A from Galaxy C to not drift apart by more than 2*c?
  22. J

    Is a black hole's mass zero according to a distant observer?

    According to the Schwarzschild metric an interval of proper time d\tau at a fixed distance r from an object of mass M is related to an interval of co-ordinate time dt measured by a distant observer: d\tau = dt \sqrt{1 - \frac{2GM}{rc^2}} This is just the gravitational time dilation formula...
  23. I

    Speed Relative to an Observer on the Ground

    Homework Statement A shuttle is orbitting around the Earth at a velocity of (7.7x10^3) m/sec. The distance between a point on the Earth to the shuttle is (6.7x10^6)m. Calculate the speed of the shuttle relative to an observer on the earth. Completely lost! I was able to solve the...
  24. J

    News Palestine recognized by the UN as a non-member observer state

    http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/un-recognizes-palestine-as-non-member-observer-state-1.1058351 I am honestly curious how this is detrimental to peace in the region. I don't really see any downside to this. Anybody care to enlighten me?
  25. J

    Why does the universe move towards an observer at rest?

    In relativity, we do not talk about just space anymore, but space-time, with time being just another dimension. An observer A at rest in an IRF who considers himself at rest at t=0 x=0, has a far away clock at t=100 for example moving towards him, i would like to say at 1second per second, but...
  26. J

    Is the speed of light constant for a co-moving observer?

    Using a simplified (radial co-ord only, spatially flat) FRW metric with the usual co-ordinates of cosmological time t and co-moving radial distance r: ds^2 = -c^2 dt^2 + a(t) dr^2 we find the path a lightbeam takes by setting ds=0 to obtain \frac{dr}{dt} = \frac{c}{a(t)} Therefore if a...
  27. J

    Time measured by free-fall observer near object?

    What is the time measured by an observer who is in free-fall near an object? The Schwarzschild metric is given by: \large c^2 d\tau^2 = (1 - \frac{r_s}{r}) c^2 dt^2 - ( 1 - \frac{r_s}{r})^{-1} dr^2 - r^2(d\theta^2 + \sin^2 \theta d\phi^2) Now for an observer at a fixed position one uses...
  28. C

    Relative motion of train and platform observer

    Homework Statement A train is passing a platform at 0.75c, and an observer, stationary and at the middle of the platform, sees two bolts of lightning simultaneously hit the front and back of the train when the train's middle was adjacent to the middle of the platform. A passenger on the train...
  29. marcus

    Lifting General Relativity to Observer Space

    On 2 October, 5 days from now, Derek Wise will give an online international seminar talk which will be a followup to his June 2012 paper with Stefen Gielen---as I recall a lot of us found that paper very interesting and it topped the second quarter MIP poll. So I want to review that paper, the...
  30. E

    Waiting times - Observer arriving at random time

    for an observer arriving at a random time t_1, where t=0 is the time when the last car passed, i got the following pdf for Δ^∗- the time the observe waits until the next car: ρ_{Δ^∗}=\frac{1}{Δ^∗}⋅(e^{-\frac{Δ^∗}{τ}}−e^{-\frac{2Δ^∗}{τ}}). the mean is τ, like the book said and it goes to 0 for...
  31. J

    Does relativity restrict velocity relative to an observer?

    I know this is a stupid question but I can't figure out how to get an answer. I'm trying to figure out if the rules of relativity force a limit on the velocities of two objects in relation to each other. Just as a thought experiment, if a spaceship is traveling at 186,281 miles per second over a...
  32. S

    Observer Frame of Reference

    Practicing Lorentz transformations but still not absolutely clear about conditions for observer's frame of reference. For example: Suppose that just as one of Einstein's long and surreally fast trains is passing a station platform, lightning strikes the platform at two points making scorch...
  33. E

    Isotropic Observer: Are They Always At Rest?

    It is said that in the case of a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime, the surfaces of homogeneity must be orthogonal to the tangents to the world lines of the isotropic observer. Does this mean that the isotropic observers are always at rest in a surface of homogeneity?
  34. F

    Can a conscious observer collapse the probability wave?

    I know very little about QM, so forgive me if this question is a bit difficult to comprehend. I understand that there is some debate about whether a conscious observer is necessary to collapse the wave function. But I was wondering if there was any experimental evidence showing to what degree a...
  35. B

    Working on a movie and have a question on observer and double slit experiment

    Is it safe to conclude from the double slit experiment that the observer actually affects what is being observed? I ask with regards to a project I'm writing which I wish to be scientifically accurate.
  36. R

    Can an Observer Think in Freeze-Frames?

    If he can do only one thing at a time, so how is it possible for him to think on any thing. That is events are thought to happen in a series of freeze-frames. Or to say an observer has to be separate from these freeze-frame, to make thinking possible. Also how is the observer separate...
  37. P

    Spacetime curvature observer and/or coordinate dependent?

    Spacetime curvature observer and/or coordinate dependent? In another topic several people suggested that spacetime curvature is not absolute, it apparently depends on the observer and/or coordinate system. Apparently if someone goes fast (whatever that might mean in relativity) curvature is...
  38. D

    Is the mass of a black hole diminishing for a free falling observer ?

    It is known since Hawking that an observer "a rest" at some far distance of a black hole sees a thermal radiation emitted by the black hole. The mass of the black hole diminishes while it emmits the thermal flow of particles. For a free falling observer there is no thermal radiation. So, for...
  39. E

    What is an observer, defined by QM?

    Couple noob questions. 1.What is quantum mechanical definition of an observer? 2.Why is looking at the double slit experiment with your eyes while the electron goes through any different than a camera looking? Each one is looking, one can just see better. Is it the fact that the outcome...
  40. J

    Region the light never reaches the 'uniformly-accelerated' observer?

    Is there a region that the light never reaches the 'uniformly accelerated' observer? Of course, light travels in the same direction the observer moves. It sounds weird for me... I derive the parameterization of t and x, and gets hyperbola. So I try to find with drawing that in the ST...
  41. Y

    Doppler shift of a signal reflected in a mirror moving away from the observer.

    I have re-written this as as I accidently deleted my original post. I was wondering if the relativistic Doppler shift of a reflection from a mirror moving away from the observer was the same as the Newtonian equation in the special case that the mirror is orthogonal to the direction of motion...
  42. R

    Question on movement speeds relative to an observer.

    Say I am at point X. My friend, Gary, is 20m from X, and my friend Liam is 40m from X. Gary is traveling at 5 metres per second in a circle around me, remaining 20m from X. What speed must Liam travel at to appear, to me, to be traveling at the same speed as Gary? Is it 10 metres per second or...
  43. A

    Many Worlds based on the observer effect

    Hi, I understand that some people believe in the many worlds interpretation because of the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics but couldn't another many worlds exist under the observer effect. I'll give a thought experiment using the double slit. When bob measures the measures electrons...
  44. T

    Does the Quantum Observer Effect Imply Consciousness Influences Reality?

    My question is about the Quantum Observer Effect. I know in the double-slit experiment originally my mind was set that somehow the measuring device altered the experimental variables but in light of a recent experiment where all possibility of that was null I am again at point zero with this...
  45. V

    What will speed of sound for sourse and observer if both are moving wrt air?

    wrt means with respect to Homework Statement see attachment that contains full question. firstly read paragraph then see on question. The Attempt at a Solution velocity of sound will be 340ms-1 wrt air or ground(since air i snot blowng). Now speed of soud wrt train A= speed of sound...
  46. jbrussell93

    Schrodinger's Cat: Conscious Observer & Levels of Organization

    My first question is pertaining to Schrodinger's Cat (i know... I am still trying to grasp these concepts). So, wouldn't it make sense that the cat would be a conscious observer therefore causing wave function collapse in the first place? My other question is just a general question about...
  47. I

    Black Hole Falling in / Observer Perspective Question

    These damn shows on the Science Channel seem to raise more questions for me than they answer, and maybe I'm understanding this wrong but here we go... If I were an unfortunate soul who fell into a black hole, the show claims that I will not feel a thing as I pass through the event horizon...
  48. S

    Speed of two spaceships relative to each other observed by an earth observer

    Edit. I think the topic is misinformative and I don't know how to change it. Hey I have to translate this into english so bear with me. Two spaceships are approaching Earth from two directions along the x-axis. Earth observer(EO) calculates their speeds to be 0,8c each. Calculate at what...
  49. G

    What is an Observer in Quantum Physics?

    Hello all, I was just wondering what 'an observer' might be in quantum physics, and any definition I can come up with just doesn't make sense. I strongly oppose the idea that an observer has to have a conscious. Because in that case, one would have to wonder: what is consciousness? Let's say...
  50. A

    Observer 1 & 2 View Force on Subject A: Analysis & Resolution

    let me first donate a(A,B) is the acceleration of A relative to B Observer 2 and a subject A with mass m are falling down from a building Observer 1 is standing on the ground to observe the motion of these two objects Ignore the air resistance In observer 1,he sees the force acting on A...
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