(E,p)(E,-p) What pushes on a scale?

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  • #1
Phrak
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You hold in the palm of your hand a classical particle with momentum

[tex]P = (E,cp_{x},cp_{y}, cp_{up})[/tex] where [tex]cp_{up}=0[/tex] .

Placing it gently on a scale you ask, what part of

[tex]P = (E,cp_{x},cp_{y}, cp_{up})[/tex]

is pushing down on the scale?
 
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  • #2
Usually you weigh particles in their rest frame, otherwise they move around too much =) In that case, you are measuring the first component of [tex]P[/tex].

You might consider the following: A gas of such non-interacting particles, in a box. The average 4-momentum of the fluid is then [tex]\left\langle P \right\rangle = ( \left\langle E \right\rangle, 0, 0, 0)[/tex], so the mass if the gas is going to be [tex]\left\langle E\right\rangle[/tex].
 
  • #3
What if the momentum is non-zero?
 
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  • #4
Then it won't be in the palm of your hand for very long.
 
  • #5
OK, so backing up a little, in everyday life, where things sit still on a scale.

[tex]\langle P \rangle ^2 = m^2 = E^2/c^4 - p^2/c^2[/tex], defining m after some units adjustment, and obtaining your equation when [tex]p=0[/tex] .

Under restricted conditions, m is what could be called gravitational mass.

But I think you misunderstand me; I really don't know what the general solution is.

I can guess halfway through it. Using the equivalence principle, the problem is equivalent to asking what resists acceleration a_z, by a force f_z, in the lab frame. So I might guess that it involves the 4-vectors of force and acceleration, whatever they are. Do you think so?
 
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  • #6
I have some notes which might help:

http://www.physics.thetangentbundle.net/wiki/Special_relativity/force
http://www.physics.thetangentbundle.net/wiki/Special_relativity/motion_under_constant_force

The "3-force" is what the experimenter applies to the object. The measurement on the scale, if you will.
 
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  • #7
I would say that neither E nor p push on the scale. Instead, the scale pushes on the particle and measures the force with which it pushes.
 
  • #8
You've got a point Dale. If the scale acts with Fz in the lab frame, what dv/dt, in either frame, does the particle have?
 
  • #9
A quick perusal of the links I gave would show that the answer to that question is
[tex]\vec{f} = \frac{1}{\gamma} \frac{d^2 \vec{x} }{d\tau^2} = \frac{1}{\gamma} \frac{d}{d\tau} \left( \gamma \frac{d\vec{x}}{dt} \right) = \frac{d}{dt} \left( \gamma \frac{d\vec{x}}{dt} \right)[/tex]

Cmon people... no need for spoon feeding.
 
  • #10
lol, lbrits. I need spoon feeding. To be honest, the equations in those links were pretty haphazardly done, but for review purposes. The deductive chain was obscure.
 
  • #11
The first link assumes basic familiarity with SR, but I've tried to make it more self contained. Thanks.
 
  • #12
Sorry, I didn't know you wrote it. I hope you can take it as constructive criticism from someone who hasn't delt with SR in a while, and didn't devote a great deal of time reading it. To be fair, I've been involved in another persuit that takes up what little brain power my wee brain can handle.
 
  • #13
Phrak said:
You've got a point Dale. If the scale acts with Fz in the lab frame, what dv/dt, in either frame, does the particle have?
Since you are already starting with the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-momentum" is simply dp/dtau.
 
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