Cavity black-body radiation aboard a relativistic rocket

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the transformation laws for various thermodynamic quantities related to black-body radiation in a cavity aboard a relativistic rocket. The original poster seeks to understand how energy flux, energy density, energy, pressure, heat, and entropy transform between the proper frame of the rocket and an external inertial frame.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive transformation equations for thermodynamic quantities, expressing them in terms of the proper frame variables. They raise a question about a discrepancy in energy transformation.
  • Some participants question the validity of certain relationships and the assumptions made regarding the transformation of quantities like heat and pressure.
  • Others suggest that the original poster may be misapplying a known formula related to energy and momentum in relativistic contexts.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback and questioning the original poster's calculations and assumptions. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need for a proper understanding of relativistic thermodynamics, but no consensus has been reached on the specific errors identified.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of potential misunderstandings regarding the transformation of the Stefan-Boltzmann constant and the relationship between heat and volume change in the context of black-body radiation.

Methavix
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Homework Statement


If we have a cavity filled with black-body radiation, an this is placed onboard a relativistic rocket (uniform linear motion).
I want to yield the transformation laws (from the proper frame S' joint to the rocket and moving with constant velocity V in respect to a coordinate frame S) for energy flux phi, energy density epsilon, energy E, pressure p, heat Q, and entropy S.

Homework Equations


I know these equations expressed in the proper frame:

phi' = sigma'*T'^4

epsilon' = (4/c)*phi' = (4/c)*sigma'*T'^4

E' = epsilon'*psi' = (4/c)*sigma'*T'^4*psi'

p' = epsilon'/3 = (4/c)*(sigma'*T'^4)/3

dQ' = (16*sigma'*T'^4*dpsi')/(3*c)

S' = (16*sigma'*T'^3*dpsi')/(3*c)

where

sigma' = Stefan-Boltzmann constant in the proper frame
T' = temperature in the proper frame
psi' = volume of the cavity in the proper frame

The Attempt at a Solution


Being (it is a known formula):

E = (E’+p’*psi’*beta^2)/sqrt(1-beta^2)

by subsituting, i yield:

E = [(1+(beta^2)/3)/sqrt(1-beta^2)]*E’

And, if I want to transform pressure? I know in general that:

p = p’ ----> (4/c)*(sigma*T^4)/3 = (4/c)*(sigma'*T'^4)/3 ----> sigma*T^4 = sigma'*T'^4

then:

sigma = sigma’*gamma^4

but this implies also:

epsilon = epsilon’

and for the Boltzmann constant k:

k = k’*gamma (by the definition of sigma, if we suppose invariant the Planck constant, is it right?)

The heat transforms as follows:

dQ = (16*sigma'*T'^4*dpsi')/(3*c*gamma)

Now, there is a problem. In fact, if a calculate E directly from epsilon (considering right its transformation):

E = epsilon*psi = epsilon’*(psi’/gamma) = E’/gamma

But this is in disagree with the transformation known of the energy.

Where is my error?
Thanks
 
Last edited:
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First, get a book on relativistic thermodynamics. Second, i hope you don't insinuate that sigma' is any different from sigma.

Daniel.
 
i don't say that sigma' is different from sigma, my calculations said this. in fact at the end of my post i wrote: "where is my error" ? :)
 
Hi,
Where do you have this relationship?

dQ' = (16*sigma'*T'^4*dpsi')/(3*c)

It is saying that the change of heat in the BB is related to the change of volume?
Thanks
David
 
I think this is not the right way of using the formula:
E = (E’+p’*psi’*beta^2)/sqrt(1-beta^2)
Where ever you got the second term from, for sure in the rest frame E' there is no division by sqrt(1-beta^2).
the Energy-Momentum states: E^2(moving frame) = E'^2(rest frame) + c^2.p^2.
 

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