Moving rod viewed in different inertial frames

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around demonstrating how a rod moving in one inertial frame appears inclined in another due to relativistic effects. The key point is that the observer in frame S sees the front and back ends of the rod at different times, leading to an apparent angle of inclination. The calculations involve using Lorentz transformations to relate the coordinates of the rod's endpoints in both frames. The final result shows that the angle of inclination is given by ##- tan^{-1}(\frac{γuv}{c^2})##. The solution presented is confirmed to be correct.
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Homework Statement


Two inertial frames S and S' are in standard configuration, the frame S' is moving along the x-axis of S with velocity v. In S' a straight rod parallel to the x' axis moves in the y' direction with velocity u. Show that in S the rod is inclined to the x-axis at an angle ##- tan^{-1}(\frac{γuv}{c^2})##

Homework Equations


## t = γ(t' + \frac{vx'}{c^2}) ~~~ x = γ(x' + vt') ~~~ Lorentz~~Transformation##
## γ = \frac{1}{[1 - (\frac{v}{c})^2]^½} ~~~ Lorentz~~ Factor##

The Attempt at a Solution


From the relativity of simultaneity, the front and back end of the rod will not be seen by the observer in S as having the same position as seen by the observer in S', the front end will lag behind the back end since light from the front will travel a little bit longer than the back to reach S.
I will treat the front and back end as separate case, let P1, P2 be the back and front end respectively. Place P1 at x' = 0 so that P2 is at x' = L

As seen by S, P1 is
##t = γ( t' + 0 ) = γt' ~~⇒~~ t' = \frac{t}{γ}##
##x = γ( 0 + vt' ) = γvt' = vt##
##y = y' = ut' = \frac{ut}{γ}##
##P1 = ( vt, \frac{ut}{γ} )##

As seen by S, P2 is
##t = γ( t' + \frac{vL}{c^2} )~~⇒~~ t' = \frac{t}{γ} - \frac{vL}{c^2}##
##x = γ( L + vt' ) = γL + γvt' = γL + γv( \frac{t}{γ} - \frac{vL}{c^2} ) = γL + vt - γL\frac{v^2}{c^2} = γL(1 - \frac{v^2}{c^2} ) + vt = \frac{L}{γ} + vt##
##y = y' = ut' = u( \frac{t}{γ} - \frac{vL}{c^2} ) = \frac{ut}{γ} - \frac{uvL}{c^2}##
##P2 = ( vt + \frac{L}{γ}, \frac{ut}{γ} - \frac{uvL}{c^2})##

##tan(θ) = \frac{Δy}{Δx} = \frac{ \frac{ut}{γ} - \frac{uvL}{c^2} - \frac{ut}{γ} }{ vt + \frac{L}{γ} - vt } = \frac{ - \frac{uvL}{c^2} }{ \frac{L}{γ} } = -γ\frac{uv}{c^2}##

##tan(-θ) = -tan(θ)~~~⇒~~~ tan(-θ) = γ\frac{uv}{c^2} ~~~⇒~~~ θ = -~ tan^{-1}(γ\frac{uv}{c^2})##

Is my solution correct?
 
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yes, correct !
 
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