Acceleration and time question

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This discussion addresses the perception of distance between two accelerating objects in the context of special relativity. It concludes that if two objects are accelerating parallel to each other and remain level, an observer on one object will not perceive an increase in distance. However, if the objects are not level, the perception of distance depends on the relationship of their accelerations and whether they are rigidly connected.

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if two objects were accelerating on parallel lines, would it appear to an observer on one object that the distance apart was increasing, due to special relativity?
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi ErnieDouglas! Welcome to PF! :smile:
ErnieDouglas said:
if two objects were accelerating on parallel lines, would it appear to an observer on one object that the distance apart was increasing, due to special relativity?

If they're "level" with each other, definitely no …

"sideways" length is never altered.

If they're not level, it depends how the accelerations are related …

does a stationary observer regard one as always a constant distance ahead of the other (in which case, yes), or are they "rigidly" connected, like the front and back of a train (in which case, no)?
 

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