Special relativity Definition and 1000 Threads

  1. S

    Momentum in special relativity

    when studying momentum 4 vectors,i encountered the CT momentum which is MC.can some explain where has this come from?
  2. 0

    Invariance of Acceleration in Inertial Reference Frames

    Claim: The acceleration (both direction and magnitude) for any object is the same in any inertial reference frame. Is this claim true? I think it is, but someone mentioned to me that time may be an issue as it's not agreed upon in all inertial reference frames. I'd appreciate any references...
  3. E

    I What is the Principle of Equivalence and how was it determined?

    Equivalence principle says that gravitational forces are equivalent physically to inertial forces. Can someone explain what is meant by that and how was it concluded?
  4. N

    First Year Special Relativity Question

    Homework Statement Planets A and B are 10 light years apart in the reference frame of planet A. A deep-space probe is launched from A, and 5 years later (in reference frame A) a similar probe is launched from B. Does a reference frame exist in which these two events (a) are simultaneous and (b)...
  5. sunrah

    I Why is special relativity a local phenomenon?

    Where does the requirement come from that special relativity applies only locally? It is not immediately obvious from the two postulates. I'm asking because this is important for the validity of the Hubble Law.
  6. U

    I Struggling with the Special Relativity and simultaneity

    As I understand, one of the Special Relativity roots is the statement that two events SIMULTANEOUS in one inertial frame are NOT necessarily simultaneous in another inertial frame that is moving against the first one. To illustrate and PROVE this statement Einstein gave his well known example...
  7. I

    Special Relativity: Lenght contraction and a photon.

    Reading an old thread (wich is now closed or i would post the question there) there was a discussion about the size of a photon, and if it was an adequate question at all. The discussion on the other thread couldn't agree on a response. Yet there was some postulates that could work with this...
  8. kontejnjer

    Is a Vector Orthogonal to a Timelike Vector Necessarily Spacelike?

    Homework Statement Show that if x^{\mu} is timelike and x^{\mu}y_{\mu}=0, y^{\mu}\neq 0, then y^\mu is spacelike. Homework Equations ds^2=\\>0\hspace{0.5cm}\text{timelike}\\<0\hspace{0.5cm}\text{spacelike}\\0\hspace{0.5cm}\text{lightlike} metric is diag (+---) The Attempt at a Solution Don't...
  9. M

    Analyzing Relativistic Effects on Low-Flying Satellites

    Homework Statement [/B] A low flying Earth satellite travels at about 8000m/s. For the satellite, the relativistic factor $$\gamma = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\beta^2}}$$ where $$\beta = \frac{v}{c}$$ is close to 1 because v<<c. Estimate by how much gamma actually deviates from 1 by expanding gamma in...
  10. Anama Skout

    Is Special Relativity Correct for Observer A?

    So let's say you're sitting on the ground (observer A) and there's a car or something that moves at .99c (observer B). (Of course, this is all hypothetical) Now, my interpretation goes that when A is seeing B, the information he gets is distorted, namely due to time dilation, length contraction...
  11. C

    Electron-positron creation from colliding photons

    Homework Statement Consider two photons, one with energy ε1 = 2MeV traveling to the right, and the other with energy ε2 = 3MeV moving tot he left. The two photons collide head-on and produce a positron-electron pair. Suppose the the electron and positron move along the same axis as the photons...
  12. I

    Is There a More Comprehensive Course on Special Relativity?

    I started special relativity course at science world u website Is this course enough? Or is there is more powerful course? I need a book for special relativity from A to Z Thanks
  13. VoteSaxon

    Special Relativity derivations ....

    Homework Statement Using the special relativity formulae p = mv / [1 - (v/c)2] E2 = p2c2 + m2c4 derive linear relations between: (i) momentum and mass; (ii) energy and mass; (iii) energy and momentum, which involve only c, c2, β = v/c, and γ (= 1/sqrt(1 - β2)) The attempt at a solution I am...
  14. S

    The Mysterious Synchronization of Clocks in Special Relativity

    Let's say we have a clock that work like this , districts beam of lights are sent in constant time gaps (created by a crystal or some other radioactive process) to a sensor. the sensor is connected to a counter that counts the number of beams, and here we have our clock. Now if we put 2 clocks...
  15. B

    What is the Time Interval Between Arrival of Wave Fronts at C' in S?

    Homework Statement Assume that the train shown in the figure below is 1.9 km long as measured by the observer at C' and is moving at 170 km/h. (The point C' is midway along this train.) What time interval between the arrival of the wave fronts at C' is measured by the observer at C in S...
  16. bcrowell

    Cauchy-Schwarz for two spacelike vectors

    In Euclidean geometry, the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality is ##|e\cdot f| \le |e||f|##. In a Minkowskian signature, the inequality is reversed for timelike vectors. Apparently for spacelike vectors it depends on whether the two vectors span the light cone...
  17. J

    Quantum Problems books in various topics in Physics

    I want college-level problems books on the following physics topics: 1)Quantum Mechanics 2)Electromagnetism 3)Classical Mechanics 4)Thermodynamics (and Statistical Mechanics) 5)Waves 6)Special Relativity
  18. vanhees71

    A Bell spaceship paradox quantitatively

    Yesterday, I found the time to write a bit further on my SRT FAQ and wanted to give a quantitative analysis of the Bell space-ship paradox on the example of the two rockets accelerating with constant proper acceleration, and I found a problem, I cannot solve. So I took this section out from my...
  19. T

    ?Understanding Special Relativity: Speed Addition & Subtraction

    special relativity says speed can be additive and subtractive ,our motion influences the speed , i did not get this part .how can our motion influence the speed of other object ?and how can speed be additive and subtractive
  20. J

    Special relativity -- 2 parallel space ships & time perception....

    If two people are in in space ships traveling next to each other at the same speed and they are going close to the speed of light they see each other expiriencing time more slowly. Why does this happen?
  21. Cosmology2015

    A First Course in String Theory/Invariant Interval/Metric

    Hello, Before starting, I would like to apologize for any errors in the use of symbols. This is my first time :sorry:. I am studying the wonderful book of Barton Zwiebach, "A First Course in StringTheory". In chapter 02, I am experiencing for the first time with the mathematics of special...
  22. Devin

    Derive Lorentz Transformations w/ Special Relativity

    Hope this derivation helps someone!
  23. Devin

    Lorentz Transformations with Special Relativity Derivation

    Any advice on my derivation layout?
  24. F

    B Travel at 3,000,001 m/s: Time Travel Explained

    would that person go into the future?why? also if i travel 1,000,000 m/s on Earth and my friend travels 20m/s per second on Earth would we experience 2 different time frame? so basically the second question is if someone travels a different speed than me on Earth whether the difference of speed...
  25. &

    Lorentz scalars - transformation of a scalar field

    When one considers a Lorentz transformation between two frames ##S## and ##S'##, such that the coordinates in ##S## are given by ##x^{\mu}## and the coordinates in ##S'## are given by ##x'^{\mu}##, with the two related by x'^{\mu}=\Lambda^{\mu}_{\;\;\nu}x^{\nu} then a scalar field ##\phi (x)##...
  26. Pyrus

    Observer is moving &charge is stationary,magnetic field acts

    CASE I - Do magnetic field is felt by observer which is moving and charge is stationary? CASE II- Do magnetic field is felt by observer which is moving with same velocity as that of charge? Does it has some experimental proofs and explanations...
  27. K

    Special Relativity Train Scenario

    Assume there is an engineer who built a tunnel, tunnel length is 10m, and we have a train its length is also 10m...so the tunnel can encompasses the entire length of the train. But if we assume that train is a light express train, it always comes through the tunnel at relativistic speed, let's...
  28. &

    Consequences of space-/time-/light-like separations

    I'm trying to prove the following statements relating to space-like, time-like and light-like space-time intervals: 1. There exists a reference frame in which two space-time events are simultaneous if and only if the two events are space-like separated. 2. There exists a reference frame in...
  29. &

    Coincidence of spacetime events & frame independence

    I have been reading these notes: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic455971.files/l10.pdf in which they claim that if two spacetime events are coincident in one frame of reference then they are coincident in all inertial frames of reference, thus spacetime events are absolute i.e. they...
  30. Noctisdark

    Relativity Special Relativity Problem Textbook ,

    Hi PF, I'm trying to learn both special and general relativity, I have read all about them, learned the basic math needed, but that was all without "enough" exercices to completely understand the theory, so I need problem books that are purely or mostly about problems about special relativity...
  31. G

    What is the cause of time dilation in Special Relativity?

    One of the basic foundation of special relativity is that the speed of light is a constant, hence time is relative to the inertial framework reference. Usually GPS is also mentioned as a modern experimental evidence. My questions: if Maxwell's equations describe EM fields, how can we derive a...
  32. &

    What is the definition of Locality (in QFT)

    I am slightly unsure as to whether I have understood the notion of locality correctly. As far as I understand it locality is the statement that if two events occur simultaneously (i.e. at the same time) then no information can be shared between them (they are causally disconnected). Thus a...
  33. &

    Simultaneous events, space-like separation & QFT

    First of all, sorry if this is in the wrong forum, wasn't quite sure which one to post it in given the question. My question is, given two space-time points ##x^{\mu}## and ##y^{\mu}##, if the events that occur at these points are simultaneous, i.e. ##x^{0}=y^{0}##, are the two events...
  34. Raman Choudhary

    Basic doubt of special relativity

    suppose person B was standing with person A at some point O and now person B starts to move with velocity c/2 w.r.t A on a straight track(starting from O) and both the observors(A and B) start to note time on identical clocks attached to their respective frames .Now after 1 second (according to...
  35. J

    2 simple special relativity thought experiments

    Hi. I'm learning about special relativity and want to see whether I understand it correctly. As such, I had 2 thought experiments that I answered, and I want to see whether these answers are correct. If not, could someone please tell me the correct answers? Thanks! Thought Experiment 1: Super...
  36. S

    Could this experiment prove special relativity to be wrong?

    Think about an electric charged object moves linely, it will produce current hence the magnetic field. But if the obserser moves together with the electron charged object, so there is no relative movement between them, that means the electric charged object is static to the observer, hence...
  37. Anaxagoras

    Non causally linked events in special relativity

    My question is about foundations of the special relativity theory. In Minkowski's way of presenting special relativity, with a signature "+ - - -", one associates to every couple of events, a spatio-temporal distance which is null on the light cone, positive if the two events are causally...
  38. gxu

    No-faster-than-light in the special relativity

    I saw the following question in the Physics-SE, and thought it is interesting. "In the special relativity it is well established that, in the vacuum no one can ever travel faster than light, due to the relativistic velocity addition formula. However, it is legitimated to ask whether the...
  39. B

    Flow of Magnetic Charge: A Source in Ampere's Law? - Bob Eisenberg

    If magnetic charge exists, it can flow. Would the flow of magnetic charge produce a current that would be a source for the curl of B, in Ampere's law? Ever yours Bob Eisenberg Chairman emeritus Dept of Molecular Biophysics Rush University Medical Center
  40. J

    Charge Dropping on Rindler Horizon: Coulomb Force Effects?

    Let's say I keep on dropping electrons on one spot of a Rindler horizon. Does the charge of the spot increase without a limit? When the charge of the spot is very large, does the spot exert a Coulomb force on the electron I'm about to drop, causing the electron to start moving away from the...
  41. U

    Fraction of particles getting through?

    Homework Statement An unstable ion of mass ##M##, energy ##E## emits a massless particle of energy ##E_\nu## at angle ##\theta##. In the rest frame of the ion, find ##E_\nu^*## and ##cos \theta^*##. Ions are now accelerated to ##\gamma=100## and a detector with radius ##r=20m## is placed...
  42. N

    Question Regarding the Twin Paradox

    Homework Statement In the twin paradox suppose the twins are named Dick and Jane. And they both are 20 years old.Dick takes off on a voyage at a speed of 0.8c to a star 20 light years away.Lets say that both the twins send each other signals once a year while Dick is away.How many signals does...
  43. Caneholder123

    Relativistic motion of the bullet

    1. A distant camera is taking an image of a bullet of proper length l_0 and velocity v. The bullet is moving on a straight line which is parallel to the ruler (a bit behind the bullet, when it is watched from the camera). An angle between the velocity vector and the line that connects the camera...
  44. MidgetDwarf

    Intro Physics Questions regarding special relativity.

    I recently found and interest in physics after reading KK Introductory Mechanics. I was thinking of learning EnM from Purcell. From my reading of these forums. Purcell introduces Max. Equations using special relativity. I do not know anything about SR (you can I am a virgin at physics). I...
  45. U

    Relativistic Doppler Effect - Arbitrary Velocity

    Homework Statement Find the observed frequency ##\nu## in terms of proper frequency ##\nu_0##, speed ##v## and radial velocity component ##v_r## for a source moving at velocity ##\vec v## with respect to the observer. Now consider an observer in frame S where the source is seen moving at...
  46. B

    How Does Special Relativity Affect Pion Decay Measurements?

    Homework Statement A beam of pion mesons travels down a tube at the CERN accelerator moving at v/c=0.95 with respect to the laboratory. (i) Compute the γ factor for these pions. (ii) The pion lifetime is 2.6 × 10−8 s, what is the lifetime measured at the laboratory? (iii) The pions travel 50...
  47. E

    Special Relativity problem regarding relat. energy/ momentum

    An object having mass of 90 kg and traveling at a speed of 0.850c collides with a stationary object having mass 1400 kg. The two objects stick together. (8pts) a) Find the speed of the composite object.b) Find the mass of the composite object Hello, I would appreciate any insight into...
  48. arpon

    Is Net Charge Conserved in Special Relativity with Current Flowing in a Wire?

    Consider an infinite wire that has no electric current initially. Then current starts to flow in the wire, i.e. the free electron drifts at speed ##v## (and the positive charges are fixed) Applying special relativity, it appears that the distance between the electrons shrinks, i.e, density of...
  49. U

    Charge's Frame: Electric Field of Moving Charge

    We all know that in the lab frame observing a charge moving along x-axis, we see an electric field ##E = \frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 x^2\gamma^2}##, picking up an extra factor of ##\gamma^2## at the bottom. Assuming no external fields are present, what would the charge see in its own rest frame...
  50. U

    How Does a Relativistic Photon Rocket Calculate Acceleration and Speed?

    Homework Statement (a) Show ##a = \frac{a_0}{\gamma^3}##. (b) Find proper acceleration of rocket (c) Find speed as a function of time. (d) Find acceleration of second rocket. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Part(a) 4-vector acceleration is given by ##\gamma^2 \left[...
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