Are My Calculations for Proper Time on a Rocket in General Relativity Correct?

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In summary, the author uses the principle that energy is a constant in the integral to calculate the proper time on the rocket. The result is less than what they get when they calculate it using the apogee of the rocket.
  • #1
Passionflower
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Assume we are on a non rotating planet and shoot a rocket straight with a given velocity (smaller than the escape velocity) and we want to calculate using the Schwarzschild solution the coordinate and proper time, both for an observer on the planet and rocket, between lift off and return to the planet.

Let's take a very basic (but of course unrealistic) example:

The Schwarzschild radius rs = 1
The surface of the planet rp = 2
The velocity of the rocket v = 0.5

Here are my results:
For the apogee of the rocket I calculate: r=3
For the coordinate time I calculate: 14.90142209
For the proper time of a clock on the planet surface I calculate: 10.53689661
For the proper time of a clock on the rocket I calculate: 11.29502440

The question in this topic is about the approach used in:
"General Relativity and the Einstein Equations"
Choquet-Bruhat - Oxford, 2009

In chapter 9, page 87 we have:

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9963/formulae.png

She uses the energy to calculate the proper time of a clock on the rocket. But I do not seem to get it to work.

If I calculate the Energy for the rocket for an observer at infinity I get: 0.8164965809

Since the rocket is free falling this energy must be a constant in the integral.

When solving this integral for the proper time on the rocket with this energy I get 9.125220141 which is less than what I calculate for the proper time on a clock on the surface of the planet.

Where do I go wrong or misunderstand?
 
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  • #2
We can calculate the proper time for the rocket using:
[tex]\Large \int _{{\it r_i}}^{{\it r_o}}\!{\frac {1}{\sqrt {{\frac {{\it r_s}}{r}}-{
\frac {{\it r_s}}{{\it r_0}}}}}}{dr}[/tex]
We can also express it in terms of energy and then we do not need the apogee at all:
[tex]\Large \int _{{\it r_i}}^{{\it r_o}}{\frac {1}{\sqrt {{E}^{2}-1+{\frac {{\it r_s}}{r}}}}}{dr}[/tex]
(rs is the Schwarzschild radius and r0 is the apogee of the rocket and ri and ro are the r-coordinate ranges)

After multiplying by two both give a result of 11.29502440
 
  • #3
The formula in Choquet-Bruhat's book uses this principle:
[tex]\Large {\frac {dt}{d\tau}}=E \left( 1-{\frac {{\it r_s}}{r}} \right) ^{-1}
[/tex]
Which is correct as it is widely referenced in the literature.

But somehow it does not add up.
 
  • #4
Passionflower said:
We can also express it in terms of energy and then we do not need the apogee at all:
[tex]\Large \int _{{\it r_i}}^{{\it r_o}}{\frac {1}{\sqrt {{E}^{2}-1+{\frac {{\it r_s}}{r}}}}}{dr}[/tex]
And coordinate time can also be expressed in terms of energy:
[tex]\Large \int _{{\it ri}}^{{\it ro}}E \left( 1-{\frac {{\it rs}}{r}} \right) ^{-1}{\frac {1}{\sqrt {{E}^{2}-1+{\frac {{\it rs}}{r}}}}}{dr}[/tex]
 
  • #5
No comments to my question?
 

What is the purpose of shooting up a rocket?

The purpose of shooting up a rocket is to transport an object or payload into space. This can include satellites, spacecraft, and even astronauts.

How does a rocket launch into space?

A rocket launch involves a series of stages where the rocket is propelled upwards by the force of its engines. The rocket must also reach a high enough speed to break free from Earth's gravitational pull and enter into orbit.

What are the main components of a rocket?

The main components of a rocket include the payload, which is what is being transported, the rocket engines, which provide the thrust, and the fuel and oxidizer, which are necessary for combustion.

What is the difference between a liquid-fueled and solid-fueled rocket?

A liquid-fueled rocket uses liquid propellant, such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which can be controlled for precise thrust. A solid-fueled rocket uses a solid propellant, such as gunpowder, which cannot be controlled and burns at a constant rate.

What are the potential dangers of shooting up a rocket?

The main dangers of shooting up a rocket include potential explosions or malfunctions during launch, the risk of debris falling back to Earth, and the environmental impact of rocket exhaust on the atmosphere. Safety measures and precautions are taken to minimize these risks.

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