- #1
nutgeb
- 294
- 1
Imagine a hypothetical large region of empty, non-expanding space whose spacetime is flat. At the start of the scenario, a rocket sits stationary relative to our galaxy at a large proper distance "x", in the common inertial frame. Then at t=0 the rocket quickly accelerates to a constant .99c velocity, radially away from our galaxy, for a time interval t=100, at which point the rocket streaks by the (stationary) proper distance "y". Both of the (stationary) proper distances "x" and "y" have been previously measured by travellers from our galaxy, who left massless flags behind to mark the distances. Marker "y" emits a light burst when it observes the rocket passing by very close to the marker. Time and simultaneity are measured in our galaxy's inertial frame. I have two questions:
1. Is the proper distance traveled by the rocket, from marker x at t=0 to marker y at t=100, Lorentz contracted as measured in our galaxy's frame?
2. During the time period between t=0 and t=1, is the proper distance from our galaxy to marker x Lorentz contracted as measured in our galaxy's frame?
I don't want to talk about the Lorentz contraction of the rocket itself. Nor about time dilation or simultaneity in the rocket's frame.
I think the answer to both my questions above is no. I don't see how the passage of an object moving at relativistic speeds could cause Lorentz contraction of proper distances between markers which themselves are at rest in the observer's frame.
1. Is the proper distance traveled by the rocket, from marker x at t=0 to marker y at t=100, Lorentz contracted as measured in our galaxy's frame?
2. During the time period between t=0 and t=1, is the proper distance from our galaxy to marker x Lorentz contracted as measured in our galaxy's frame?
I don't want to talk about the Lorentz contraction of the rocket itself. Nor about time dilation or simultaneity in the rocket's frame.
I think the answer to both my questions above is no. I don't see how the passage of an object moving at relativistic speeds could cause Lorentz contraction of proper distances between markers which themselves are at rest in the observer's frame.