Does Time Dilation Affect Observations in Baseball?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of time dilation as it relates to a baseball being hit and caught at home plate. The key conclusion is that none of the observers—spectators in the stands, viewers at home, or the third baseman—can accurately record the proper time interval between the events, as they are not in an inertial frame relative to the baseball. Proper time can only be measured by an observer moving with the baseball, making the baseball's clock the only accurate timekeeper for the events described.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity concepts, particularly time dilation.
  • Familiarity with the equation for time dilation: \(\Delta t=\frac{\Delta t_{0}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}\).
  • Knowledge of inertial versus non-inertial frames of reference.
  • Basic grasp of the concept of proper time in physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of time dilation in different inertial frames.
  • Learn about the effects of acceleration on time measurement in general relativity.
  • Explore the concept of proper time in more complex scenarios involving multiple observers.
  • Investigate how time dilation affects real-world applications, such as GPS technology.
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the principles of relativity and time measurement in dynamic systems.

Tranceform
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Homework Statement


A baseball player at home plate hits a pop fly straight up (the beginning event) that is caught by the catcher at home plate (the ending event). Which one or more of the following obeservers record(s) the proper time interval between the two events? (a) A spectator sitting in the strands (b) A spectator watching the game home on TV (c) The third baseman running to cover the play

Homework Equations


\Delta t=\frac{\Delta t_{0}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}

The Attempt at a Solution


As I understood time dilution it occurs when an object is moving and the obeserver is not inertial with the movement of the object. In this case neither of the observers is moving with the object (the baseball) so no one of the observers should be able to records the proper time interval between the two events. Only a clock that was a attached to the baseball itself would do that. Please explain why this view is not correct.
 
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In this case neither of the observers is moving with the object (the baseball)
Is time for the baseball relevant?

Check the problem statement - proper time of what is asked for?
 
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mfb said:
Is time for the baseball relevant?

Check the problem statement - proper time of what is asked for?
Proper time between the two events. I guess then that since the events take place at the same place, the proper time is measured according to an observer inertial for those two places, which would be a stationary observer.

However if the time measured would have been only on the baseball going up (but not down), the proper time measured would have had to move along with the baseball?
 
Tranceform said:
Proper time between the two events. I guess then that since the events take place at the same place, the proper time is measured according to an observer inertial for those two places, which would be a stationary observer.
Right.

However if the time measured would have been only on the baseball going up (but not down), the proper time measured would have had to move along with the baseball?
What's the endpoint you consider here?
The highest point of the ball? Then neither is right, as proper time corresponds to the time you see in an inertial (not accelerated!) frame moving from one point to the other. As we do not consider general relativity here, the ball is accelerated.
Still the surface? Then see the original problem.
 

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