Photon frequency in different inertial frames

Click For Summary
Different inertial frames can indeed measure varying frequencies of light due to the Doppler effect, particularly the relativistic Doppler shift at high velocities. This phenomenon occurs when observing an annihilation reaction, where the energies of reactants differ across frames, leading to changes in the frequency of emitted photons. The analogy to sound demonstrates how relative motion affects perceived frequency, as a source moving towards an observer alters the tone. Thus, frequency measurements of light are not absolute but depend on the observer's frame of reference. Understanding this concept is crucial in fields like astrophysics and quantum mechanics.
MHD93
Messages
93
Reaction score
0
Do we measure different frequencies of light in frames moving relatively at constant velocities?

Because when we look at an annihilation reaction from the view of different frames, we see different energies of the reactants which seem to affect the frequency of the produced photons.

your kind responses are appreciated
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Mohammad_93 said:
Do we measure different frequencies of light in frames moving relatively at constant velocities?

Yes, it's called a Doppler shift (or, for sufficiently fast velocities, a relativistic Doppler shift).
 
and it is analogous to a sound signal which when the source approaches you seems to change 'tone' [frequency or wavelength] as the source passes you...the observed frequency changes duo to relative motion.
 

Thread 'Am I understanding the concept of proper frame of reference?'

MOVING CLOCKS In this section, we show that clocks moving at high speeds run slowly. We construct a clock, called a light clock, using a stick of proper lenght ##L_0##, and two mirrors. The two mirrors face each other, and a pulse of light bounces back and forth betweem them. Each time the light pulse strikes one of the mirrors, say the lower mirror, the clock is said to tick. Between successive ticks the light pulse travels a distance ##2L_0## in the proper reference of frame of the clock...
View full post »

Similar threads

High School High Frequency Photons: More Mass, More Bend?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Transformation Riemann tensor to an accelerating frame
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K
Undergrad Speed of Light in Inertial Ref Frames: Photon Perspective
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Is an accelerating frame the same as an inertial frame at a point?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
High School Photon Frequency: How Special Relativity Affects Light
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
Undergrad Photon in a mirrored box moving in direction of travel
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
Undergrad Energy and reference frames
  • · Replies 87 ·
3
Replies
87
Views
5K
High School Question about “Inertia arises from interaction with the Universe’s mass”
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
1K
Undergrad Einstein vs Newton: The concept of inertial vs non inertial frames
  • · Replies 72 ·
3
Replies
72
Views
5K
Undergrad Is time dilation a real effect?
  • · Replies 54 ·
2
Replies
54
Views
4K