Homework Help: Length Contraction angle

1. Feb 1, 2010

richard7893

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A meter stick at rest in S' is tilted at an angle of 30 degrees to the x'axis. If S'
moves a speed beta = 0.8 with respect to S.
a)How long is the the meter stick as measured in S ?
b)What angle does it make with the x-axis?
2. Relevant equations
l=l naught/gamma

3. The attempt at a solution
I have part a) as 0.72m. only parallel motion of meter stick will contract according to frame S. to find length in S frame I took 1m*cos(30)/gamma to see how much meter stick contracted relative to motion and it was 0.52. and took the answer to this and used pythagorean to get .72m( sqrt((.52)^2+sin^2(30)) , which is the total length observed in S. this has to mean that the answer in part b is 30 degrees because we assumed sin 30 degrees when I used the pythagorean in part a). Am I correct?

2. Feb 1, 2010

jdwood983

Doesn't seem to be correct. If you are contracting the x-direction while keeping the y-direction constant, doesn't this imply that

$$\theta_2=\tan^{-1}\left[\frac{y}{x}\right]\neq\tan^{-1}\left[\frac{y'}{x'}\right]$$

where $x'$ is the relativistic frame.

Last edited: Feb 2, 2010
3. Feb 1, 2010

jdwood983

You have already identified $S_x$. You now need to find the angle $\theta_2$ that this contracted meter stick appears to the stationary observer. (Hint: you can use the equation in the previous post)

Last edited: Feb 2, 2010
4. Feb 1, 2010

richard7893

I think what you wrote makes sense. When we use the pythagorean thm in part a) to find the total lenth observed is S we assume the "y component" of length remains unchenged from the moving frame to stationary frame, this is why we use sin30 in the pythagorean. however the angle from which S' sees the meterstick is different because the "x component" of length is changed in S' and changes the angle. Was this your logic in coming up with the arctan(y/x') equation? ANd do you mean theta in your equation not theta prime because we are looking for the angle in the stationary S frame? theta prime = arctan (y'/x') (which was given in question: 30 degrees) Is that what you meant to put? Theta prime is angle in moving frame S'. Im assuming you meant to put Theta = arctan (y'/x) where y'=y

Last edited: Feb 1, 2010
5. Feb 2, 2010

jdwood983

Yes, this is the logic used here. You should always remember SOH CAH TOA to remember which components of the triangle are needed to find the angles. In this case, you know the y-component and the x'-component and can easily find the angle $\theta$.

This is true, it should not be $\theta'$. If anything, it should be $\theta_2$ to indicate it is not the same angle to begin with. The equation should read (and I edited the previous posts to make it read this)

$$\theta_2=\tan^{-1}\left[\frac{y}{x}\right]$$

Last edited: Feb 2, 2010
6. Feb 2, 2010

gabbagabbahey

I think you are confusing yourself here; $\theta=\tan^{-1}\left[\frac{y}{x}\right]$ and $\theta'=\tan^{-1}\left[\frac{y'}{x'}\right]$....the problem statement tells you that the stick is at rest in $S'$ and makes an angle of 30 degrees w.r.t. the $x'$-axis...that means $\theta'=30^\circ$ and you are looking for $\theta$.

Last edited: Feb 2, 2010
7. Feb 2, 2010

jdwood983

Whoops...that's twice I've made prime & no-prime mistakes. Thanks for catching that one too.