Planck Length and Lorentz Contraction

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Planck length, posited as the smallest measurable length in physics, and its implications within the framework of special relativity. Participants argue that if an object reaches the Planck length and moves, it contradicts the principles of special relativity, specifically the length contraction formula L' = L √(1 - v²/c²). The conversation highlights the need for a robust theory of quantum gravity to determine if a smallest possible length exists and whether it is indeed the Planck length. Additionally, the discussion critiques sources that present speculative claims as established facts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity, including length contraction.
  • Familiarity with the concept of Planck length in quantum physics.
  • Basic knowledge of quantum gravity theories.
  • Awareness of Non-Commutative Geometry as proposed by Alain Connes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Planck length in quantum gravity theories.
  • Study the principles of special relativity and its experimental validations.
  • Explore Alain Connes' Non-Commutative Geometry and its relevance to spacetime.
  • Investigate current theories and debates surrounding the existence of a smallest possible length.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the intersections of quantum mechanics and relativity, particularly those exploring the nature of spacetime and fundamental lengths.

Moayd Shagaf
Messages
38
Reaction score
12
I've heard that Planck length is the smallest length ever! but if something that his length is equal to Planck length and moving by speed dv which is infinitesimal change in speed or higher than that , then according to special relativity his length must be equal to L'=L \sqrt1-v^2/c^2
which is violate that Planck length is the smallest length.
so I considered two soultions to this dilemma, first maybe I misunderstood and this is the smallest length possible when object at rest.
maybe when object get to Planck length he can't ever move agian!
so what is the solutions?
and other thing since string length is equal to Planck length? how they propagate in spacetime?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Moayd Shagaf said:
I have put in a link in my original post that you should check out.

I did not read the article you pointed to but if in fact it says that the Plank length is the shortest possible physical length, then it is an unacceptable source because it is wrong.
 
Moayd Shagaf said:

This is not a valid source; it is presenting something which is speculation as though it were known fact. We will not know whether there is in fact a smallest possible length until we have a good theory of quantum gravity--at least that is our best current expectation.

Note also that even if it turns out that there is a smallest possible length in the correct theory of quantum gravity, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be the Planck length. That is also speculation at this point.

Moayd Shagaf said:
according to special relativity

If in fact it turns out that a good quantum gravity theory says there is a smallest possible length (whether it turns out to be the Planck length or something else), that will mean that our current classical theories of relativity (special and general) will only be approximations, valid for length scales much larger than the smallest possible length.
 
Moayd Shagaf said:
I've heard that Planck length is the smallest length ever! but if something that his length is equal to Planck length and moving by speed dv which is infinitesimal change in speed or higher than that , then according to special relativity his length must be equal to L'=L \sqrt1-v^2/c^2
which is violate that Planck length is the smallest length.
so I considered two soultions to this dilemma, first maybe I misunderstood and this is the smallest length possible when object at rest.
maybe when object get to Planck length he can't ever move agian!
so what is the solutions?
and other thing since string length is equal to Planck length? how they propagate in spacetime?

You have just (correctly) reasoned that special relativity and a "smallest possible length" are incompatible. Either one or the other is wrong. Right now, special relativity has more experimental evidence, but if the "smallest possible length" is small enough, it could be that special relativity is approximate and we will see violations of it with enough precision.
 
Moayd Shagaf said:
I've heard that Planck length is the smallest length ever! but if something that his length is equal to Planck length and moving by speed dv which is infinitesimal change in speed or higher than that , then according to special relativity his length must be equal to L'=L \sqrt1-v^2/c^2
which is violate that Planck length is the smallest length.
so I considered two soultions to this dilemma, first maybe I misunderstood and this is the smallest length possible when object at rest.
maybe when object get to Planck length he can't ever move agian!
so what is the solutions?
and other thing since string length is equal to Planck length? how they propagate in spacetime?

Building a mathematical structure with a quantized spacetime which is consistent with relativity is one of the motivations behind Alain Connes theory of Non-Commutative Geometry. Connes has been successful, but it is a very different geometry than what you are probably thinking, so your objections are not valid. It involves the position variables being replaced by non-commuting operators. An example you might be familiar with is QM phase space, where the operators \hat x and \hat p_x do not commute, and the phase space volume is a constant (Planck's constant h) as seen by all observers.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Phyzguy, those aren't really accessible at the I-level. And, given that the OP is IIRC a 13 or 14-year old, this really should be a B question.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Phyzguy, those aren't really accessible at the I-level. And, given that the OP is IIRC a 13 or 14-year old, this really should be a B question.

Sorry, I missed the I-level.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
844
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
7K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 63 ·
3
Replies
63
Views
6K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K