Equivalent Trajectories in Relativity: Observer Effects

jaketodd
Gold Member
Messages
507
Reaction score
21
In relativity, can two sets of trajectories, carried out at different times, be considered equivalent if they only differ by when they change directions as they traverse their sets of trajectories? They traverse the same trajectories. The only difference is the rate at which they traverse the trajectories. Is the answer yes because the observer, during the two times of trajectory traversal, could be going on their own sets of trajectories (different speeds but the same paths for observing each of the two sets of trajectories) that make the two observed trajectories look equivalent? Are the two trajectory sets equivalent to the described observer? ...they are equivalent to the described observer but not to other observers? If the difference between the rate of traversal between the two identical sets of trajectories is a constant, are the two sets of trajectories equivalent to any observer? What if the two sets of trajectories varied in their rate but not by a constant amount...would they be equivalent, and to which observer(s)?

Thanks,

Jake
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I guess that depends on the definition of "equivalent". If "equivalent" means that the two trajectories take the same form in some coordinate system then I would say that the answer is "yes, provided that the spacetime is static".
 
Thread 'Can this experiment break Lorentz symmetry?'
1. The Big Idea: According to Einstein’s relativity, all motion is relative. You can’t tell if you’re moving at a constant velocity without looking outside. But what if there is a universal “rest frame” (like the old idea of the “ether”)? This experiment tries to find out by looking for tiny, directional differences in how objects move inside a sealed box. 2. How It Works: The Two-Stage Process Imagine a perfectly isolated spacecraft (our lab) moving through space at some unknown speed V...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. The Relativator was sold by (as printed) Atomic Laboratories, Inc. 3086 Claremont Ave, Berkeley 5, California , which seems to be a division of Cenco Instruments (Central Scientific Company)... Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/relativator-circular-slide-rule-simulated-with-desmos/ by @robphy
Does the speed of light change in a gravitational field depending on whether the direction of travel is parallel to the field, or perpendicular to the field? And is it the same in both directions at each orientation? This question could be answered experimentally to some degree of accuracy. Experiment design: Place two identical clocks A and B on the circumference of a wheel at opposite ends of the diameter of length L. The wheel is positioned upright, i.e., perpendicular to the ground...
Back
Top