Is There a Connection Between Planck Length and Planck Time in Relativity?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between Planck length (10^-35 meters) and Planck time (10^-43 seconds) within the framework of relativity. Participants assert that these units are arbitrary and do not possess physical significance in special relativity. Length contraction and time dilation are governed by the same gamma factor, indicating they occur on the same scale. The conversation highlights the misconception that Planck units impose a limit on physical reality, emphasizing that there is no known size limit in relativity.

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  • Understanding of special relativity concepts, including time dilation and length contraction.
  • Familiarity with Planck units, specifically Planck length and Planck time.
  • Knowledge of the gamma factor in relativistic physics.
  • Basic grasp of the implications of relativistic aberration and its measurements.
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  • Research the implications of the gamma factor in special relativity.
  • Explore the significance of Planck units in modern physics.
  • Investigate experimental evidence for relativistic effects, particularly in high-energy particle collisions.
  • Learn about relativistic aberration and its applications in astrophysics.
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Physicists, students of relativity, and anyone interested in the fundamental concepts of time and space in modern physics.

  • #31
This is probably repeating the same question, but i want to make sure it is:

I've watched the following 3 part video:


If we consider that g=h=c=1 and derive the meter, second and kg from them:

Does length contraction advance at the same rate as time dilation advances, as an object gets closer towards the speed of light?

Is the subject of arbitrariness now still what defines this question, as it was that defined it as originally expressed in this thread?
 
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  • #32
roineust said:
Does length contraction advance at the same rate as time dilation advances, as an object gets closer towards the speed of light?
Either I am misunderstanding your question or it was answered by @PeroK in post #8.
 
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  • #33
Nugatory said:
Either I am misunderstanding your question or it was answered by @PeroK in post #8.

How is it that an expression (gamma) that includes time and length in it, in the form of speed, is dimensionless?
 
  • #34
roineust said:
How is it that an expression (gamma) that includes time and length in it, in the form of speed, is dimensionless?
You can easily work out the units for yourself.
 
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  • #35
roineust said:
How is it that an expression (gamma) that includes time and length in it, in the form of speed, is dimensionless?
Because it only involves ##v/c## and that is dimensionless.
 
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  • #36
Is a single occurrence of light refraction in water, considered mathematically an addition of a dimension?
 
  • #37
roineust said:
Is a single occurrence of light refraction in water, considered mathematically an addition of a dimension?
Whatever you mean to say here, it's coming across as nonsense. Try to formulate your question more clearly. If it's a new topic, start a new thread.
 
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  • #38
roineust said:
Does a single occurrence of light refraction in water, considered mathematically an addition of a dimension?
"Dimension" in this context is the physical dimensions of length ##L##, mass ##M## and time ##T##. For example, velocity has dimensions of ##LT^{-1}##,; force has dimensions of ##MLT^{-2}## and energy has dimensions of ##ML^2T^{-2}##.

This is not to be confused with spatial and time dimensions.

Something like ##\frac v c##, or ##\frac {m_1}{m_2}## which appears in a lot of mechanics problems, is dimensionless. This means also that these quantities are independent of the units. If the velocity is half the speed of light, then ##\frac v c = \frac 1 2## regardless of the units.

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_analysis
 
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  • #39
Maybe we could remove the arbitraryness of the original question regarding units by assuming a base measure of length as 1 Lightsecond = 299796 km = 1 Flash [f]. By using this base, the Planck-Length would become 0.53*10^-43 f. So why is it only roughly half the length that light could cover in 1 Planck-Time (1*10^-43 s)?
If you define your unit of length to only rely on your unit of time (which you can do since there is such a well defined, prominent speed...), then it becomes irrelevant what you mean by "1 Second" as well, the ratio still is roughly 2 Planck-Length = 1 Planck-Time. It might be "irrelevant" to ask why - but then, why's that?
 
  • #40
Thomas Sturm said:
So why is it only roughly half the length that light could cover in 1 Planck-Time (1*10^-43 s)?
It isn't - your value for the Planck time is off by a factor of roughly two. The Planck time is 5.39×10-44s, which is consistent with your Planck length in light seconds - as it must be by definition.
 
  • #41
"The Planck time is the time it would take a photon traveling at the speed of light to across a distance equal to the Planck length. " Is the, very sensible, answer to the original question, then. If I had just googled "planck time length" first...this was just such a "1st-post-idiocity" from me, it really made me laugh (and still smile as I type this, in a slightly embarrassed kind of way). Thank you Ibix.
"No. It just means that seconds are bigger than meters."
This just has to be the coolest answer, ever.
 
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