Acceleration in special theory of relativity

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the implications of constant acceleration in the context of special relativity. It establishes that if a body accelerates with constant acceleration in an inertial frame of reference S, there cannot exist another inertial frame S' moving at speed u relative to S where the body does not accelerate. This conclusion is supported by the transformation of acceleration between frames, which indicates that constant acceleration in one frame results in non-constant acceleration in another. The principles discussed apply to both special relativity and Newtonian mechanics.

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  • Understanding of special relativity concepts
  • Familiarity with inertial frames of reference
  • Knowledge of acceleration transformation between frames
  • Basic principles of Newtonian mechanics
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  • Study the Lorentz transformation equations in special relativity
  • Explore the concept of proper acceleration in different frames
  • Investigate the implications of non-constant acceleration in relativistic contexts
  • Learn about the equivalence principle and its relation to acceleration
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Physicists, students of relativity, and anyone interested in the foundational concepts of motion and acceleration in both special relativity and classical mechanics.

LagrangeEuler
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In a inertial frame of reference ##S## body accelerate with constant acceleration ##a##. Can then exist inertial frame of reference ##S'## which moves with speed ##u## relative to ##S## in which body does not accelerate? And why?
 
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No. If it does not accelerate in S' then it moves with constant velocity with respect to that frame. Transforming that velocity to S yields another constant velocity. And that is in contradiction with body being accelerated.
That is true in both SR and non-relativistic mechanics.
 
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Can such a thing hgappen in Newtonian mechanics? If not, what does Relativity change?
 
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Thanks. And can exist inertial frame of reference ##S'## in which acceleration is not constant if in the system ##S## acceleration is constant?
 
LagrangeEuler said:
Thanks. And can exist inertial frame of reference ##S'## in which acceleration is not constant if in the system ##S## acceleration is constant?
Is that something you could work out for yourself? Using the transformation of acceleration from one frame to another, perhaps.
 
I think that if one system acceleration is constant in the system that moves with velocity ##u## relative to this one acceleration will not be constant, because in formula for acceleration is velocity of moving object that changes from point to point.
 
LagrangeEuler said:
I think that if one system acceleration is constant in the system that moves with velocity ##u## relative to this one acceleration will not be constant, because in formula for acceleration is velocity of moving object that changes from point to point.
Yes, exactly.
 
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