Arguments Against Existence of Isotropic Length Contraction/Expansion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of isotropic length contraction and expansion in the context of special relativity. Participants explore whether such phenomena can exist, the implications of their existence, and the arguments against them, drawing from theoretical and experimental perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why Lorentz contraction is the only known type of length contraction and whether other forms of length expansion or contraction could exist.
  • Arguments against isotropic length expansion include the observation that all laws of nature appear consistent across space, as indicated by light spectral lines and supernovae.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of experimental evidence for isotropic length expansions or contractions in particle physics.
  • Participants discuss the implications of length expansion on the motion of particles, particularly regarding superluminal speeds and the conservation of momentum and energy.
  • Some participants assert that length contraction is directional and only occurs along the direction of motion, not isotropically.
  • Questions are posed about the validity of claims regarding isotropic length expansion, particularly in the context of atomic structures and their observed properties.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement on the existence of isotropic length expansion, with some arguing it cannot exist while others question the validity of the arguments against it. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the potential for isotropic length changes.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the definitions of length contraction and expansion, as well as the varying interpretations of special relativity. The discussion also highlights the lack of consensus on the implications of experimental observations in particle physics.

smm
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according to special relativity theory, any object that has relative
velocity also has lorenz- contraction L' = L0 *sqrt (1-(v/c^2))

it sounds odd that this is only kind of length contraction known to exist.

why there are no other kind of length expansions or contractions, or are them impossible to exist for some reason that comes from relativity- or particle physics theories?

-For example If someone would tell you that he has observed an
object in space with his telescope that has isotropical length expansion, could you make good argument against his claim?


i put here some arguments against that i have found:

1 according to lights spectral lines, supernovas and other events, all laws of nature seems to be same everywhere in observed space

2 In particle physics experiments, no length expansions or contractions have been
ever observed

3 if some object would have length expansion, at least it can't move or emit light at superluminal speed - that is not possible according to special relativity theory.

4 Does particle that have isotropic length expansion or contraction
have more or less momentum or energy than normal particle? IF SO, where has
the particle got its momentum from? What kind of force can have influence to
to make the particle have isotropic length expansion or contraction?
 
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smm said:
according to special relativity theory, any object that has relative
velocity also has lorenz- contraction L' = L0 *sqrt (1-(v/c^2))

it sounds odd that this is only kind of length contraction known to exist.

why there are no other kind of length expansions or contractions, or are them impossible to exist for some reason that comes from relativity- or particle physics theories?

-For example If someone would tell you that he has observed an
object in space with his telescope that has isotropical length expansion, could you make good argument against his claim?


i put here some arguments against that i have found:

1 according to lights spectral lines, supernovas and other events, all laws of nature seems to be same everywhere in observed space
Yes, this seems reasonable- and that the laws of nature are the same everywhere is a standard assumption.

2 In particle physics experiments, no length expansions or contractions have been
ever observed
Why would particle physics experiments be important? Relativistic length contraction certainly has been observed- whether in "partcle physics experiments" or not, I don't know.

3 if some object would have length expansion, at least it can't move or emit light at superluminal speed - that is not possible according to special relativity theory.
How do you arrive at this? Length expansion, as a result of relative motion, is itself not possible according to special relativity theory. I don't know what you mean by "can't move". Every object in the universe is moving relative to some other object.

4 Does particle that have isotropic length expansion or contraction
have more or less momentum or energy than normal particle? IF SO, where has
the particle got its momentum from? What kind of force can have influence to
to make the particle have isotropic length expansion or contraction?
Good! A question rather than a flat assertion! No, relativistic length contraction is not directly related to the energy or momentum of an object. However, it is true that the amount of energy or momentum an object is observed to have depends upon the frame of reference from which it is observed. If I am in a frame of reference in which the object is at rest, I see no contraction from its rest length and I see 0 kinetic energy and momentum. If another observer is in a frame of reference in which that same object is in motion, that observer will see the object contracted (never "expanded") from its rest length and see non-zero kinetic energy and momentum.
 


smm said:
according to special relativity theory, any object that has relative
velocity also has lorenz- contraction L' = L0 *sqrt (1-(v/c^2))
Keep in mind, as HallsofIvy just pointed out, it's the velocity of an object relative to a frame of reference that matters. Since we can use any frame of reference, the lorentz contraction can be different in every one.
smm said:
it sounds odd that this is only kind of length contraction known to exist.

why there are no other kind of length expansions or contractions, or are them impossible to exist for some reason that comes from relativity- or particle physics theories?

-For example If someone would tell you that he has observed an
object in space with his telescope that has isotropical length expansion, could you make good argument against his claim?
Yes, of course.

1) As HallsofIvy pointed out, it's always length contraction, not length expansion.

2) It's not isotropic. It's only along the direction of motion.

3) It cannot be observed with a telescope or by any other means since it's different in each frame.

smm said:
i put here some arguments against that i have found:

1 according to lights spectral lines, supernovas and other events, all laws of nature seems to be same everywhere in observed space

2 In particle physics experiments, no length expansions or contractions have been
ever observed

3 if some object would have length expansion, at least it can't move or emit light at superluminal speed - that is not possible according to special relativity theory.

4 Does particle that have isotropic length expansion or contraction
have more or less momentum or energy than normal particle? IF SO, where has
the particle got its momentum from? What kind of force can have influence to
to make the particle have isotropic length expansion or contraction?
You don't need any arguments against isotropic length expansion or contraction because nobody is arguing for it. What you need is to understand Special Relativity. I suggest you read lots of other threads on this forum such as the ones listed at the bottom of this thread and learn that way. Promoting ideas that debunk relativity is a good way to get banned and asking irrelevant questions is just a waste of everybody's time.
 


hi - i am curious about can you say directly a very good argument that isotropic length expansion can't exist in nature? i want to clarify this at first here.

for example can atom at rest have isotropical length expansion or contraction? I mean does some very good argument deny this atoms existence? If someone would say that he has found hydrogen atom in his laboratory that has 3 times larger radius than normal hydrogen atom, but it is a hydrogen atom -can you give very good argument against this claim?

2 In particle physics experiments, no length expansions or contractions have been ever observed

Why would particle physics experiments be important? Relativistic length contraction certainly has been observed- whether in "partcle physics experiments" or not, I don't know.

i mean that no isotropical length expansions or contractions have ever observed in particle physics experiments. for example all free protons and other particles are found to be exactly
identical in their radius except their lorenz contraction required in special relativity theory.

3 if some object would have length expansion, at least it can't move or emit light at superluminal speed - that is not possible according to special relativity theory.

How do you arrive at this? Length expansion, as a result of relative motion, is itself not possible according to special relativity theory. I don't know what you mean by "can't move". Every object in the universe is moving relative to some other object.

i mean that If for example atom would have isotropic length expansion, special relativity theory at least requires that its electrons orbital velocities can't be superluminal. Also free proton that is accelerated by some force can't emit electromagnetic radiation at superluminal speed.

4 Does particle that have isotropic length expansion or contraction
have more or less momentum or energy than normal particle? IF SO, where has
the particle got its momentum from? What kind of force can have influence to
to make the particle have isotropic length expansion or contraction?

Good! A question rather than a flat assertion! No, relativistic length contraction is not directly related to the energy or momentum of an object. However, it is true that the amount of energy or momentum an object is observed to have depends upon the frame of reference from which it is observed. If I am in a frame of reference in which the object is at rest, I see no contraction from its rest length and I see 0 kinetic energy and momentum. If another observer is in a frame of reference in which that same object is in motion, that observer will see the object contracted (never "expanded") from its rest length and see non-zero kinetic energy and momentum.

Yes i understand that kinetic energy, momentum, time dilation, lorenz contraction and simultaneity - are all relative properties of particle while particles rest energy (that is equivalent to its mass) is nonrelative and always invariant property of particle.

by the way what do you mean that relativistic kinetic energy is not directly related to particles lorenz contraction? i understood that special relativity gives strict connection between particles lorenz contraction and particles relative kinetic energy and momentum (although they also depend on particles rest mass and if particle consist of several moving parts they all have slightly different energies) and they both exist at same time.

If isotropical length expansion would exist, it can't be relative propery of a particle - it can't be symmetric between two observers that have relative speed.

i mean that for example if atom would have isotropical length expansion does its orbiting electrons have then more kinetic energy? or less? if so, what kind of force has acted on that particle to give it this energy or take it away? if there is no force that can do this, at least no known force can ever create isotropic length expansion or contraction.
 


smm said:
according to special relativity theory, any object that has relative
velocity also has lorenz- contraction L' = L0 *sqrt (1-(v/c^2))

it sounds odd that this is only kind of length contraction known to exist.

Since Einstein, if not before, the contraction has not regarded as being a physical effect on the object, but rather the result of a coordinate transformation between the object and the observer. It's a special case of applying the Lorentz transform to the situation being examined. The Lorentz transform arises from the assumption that there are only relative motions, and that the speed of light is the same for all observers.

So one would not expect to find other kinds of length contraction.

Sylvia.
 

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