B Redshift of a light pulse between 2 accelerating rockets

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In the discussion, participants analyze the scenario of two accelerating rockets, focusing on the emission of a light pulse from the trailing rocket. The light pulse is expected to reach the leading rocket after a time of z/c, but concerns are raised about the leading rocket's movement during that time, suggesting the pulse must cover a greater distance. The conversation clarifies that this is a first-order approximation, where the effects of the leading rocket's acceleration are considered negligible for short time intervals. The logic presented in the referenced book is confirmed, emphasizing that higher-order terms can be ignored under certain conditions. Overall, the discussion highlights the complexities of relativistic effects in accelerating frames.
sphyrch
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I'm reading book from here. Suppose two rockets are accelerating with the same acceleration ##a## and are separated by some distance ##z##. At time ##t_0## the trailing rocket emits a light pulse. The book tells that pulse reaches leading box after time ##z/c## as seen in background frame. But won't the pulse actually have to cover a distance more than ##z## to reach the front rocket since the front rocket would've moved forward in that time? This on pg 65
 
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Yes, that is a first order approximation.
 
Dale said:
Yes, that is a first order approximation.
It like this? If front ship moved extra ##x## dist by the time (say ##t##) light reached, then ##ct-z=ut+at^2/2##. and then we say ##u<<c## so we ignore, and we say that time taken is super short so we ignore ##t^2## too. So every thing gets ignored and we get ##ct-z=0##. This the author logic?
 
More or less, yes. The only other thing is that usually they choose the reference frame where ##u=0##. So the displacement due to acceleration is 2nd order (##at^2/2##)
 
Moderator's note: Spin-off from another thread due to topic change. In the second link referenced, there is a claim about a physical interpretation of frame field. Consider a family of observers whose worldlines fill a region of spacetime. Each of them carries a clock and a set of mutually orthogonal rulers. Each observer points in the (timelike) direction defined by its worldline's tangent at any given event along it. What about the rulers each of them carries ? My interpretation: each...

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