How Does Relativity Affect the Measured Angle of a Ramp on a Space Station?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a ramp constructed on a space station, with a rocket moving past at a significant fraction of the speed of light. The original poster seeks to determine how the angle of the ramp is perceived by an observer above the rocket, given the relativistic effects of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply trigonometric relationships and relativistic length contraction but expresses uncertainty about the definitions of the lengths involved. Some participants question whether the height of the ramp remains constant regardless of the motion of the rocket.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaged in clarifying the concepts of relativistic effects on measurements. There is a focus on understanding how height and length are perceived differently due to motion, with some guidance provided regarding the independence of motion in perpendicular directions.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of specific values and expected outcomes, but the discussion remains open-ended regarding the calculations and interpretations of the ramp's angle as perceived by different observers.

a.a
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Homework Statement



A carpenter on a space statopn has constructed a 30 degress ramp. A rocket moves past the space station with a relative speed f 0.730c in a direction parallel to the horizontal. What does a person above the ocker measure for the angle of the ramp?

Homework Equations



sine and cosine relations
L(m) = L(s)sqrt. 1-v^2/c^2


The Attempt at a Solution



I haven't been able to simplify far enough to get an angle. I'm not to sure about which length is L(m) or L(s) and I assumed that the angle that the rocker would measure would be from L(m) and H(m), but i arrive at a different answer. The answer is supposed to be 40.2 degrees.
 
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can you show the work you did in detail. Otherwise you won't get help.
 
Edit: Sorry MG, I didn't see your post there.
 
Last edited:
does the heigh always stay the same regargless of weather it is starionaty or moveing?

Umm.. so i took another look and i decided to use trig ratios and solve for moveing length and let relativeistic length be root. 3
 
a.a said:
does the heigh always stay the same regargless of weather it is starionaty or moveing?
That is correct, since motion in perpendicular directions is independent, Lorentz contractions are only observed in the direction in which the observer is travelling. So in this case the observed height is equal to the proper height, but the base of the ramp is observed to be Lorentz contracted.
 

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