Relativistic motion of the bullet

[Caneholder123]

1. A distant camera is taking an image of a bullet of proper length l_0 and velocity v. The bullet is moving on a straight line which is parallel to the ruler (a bit behind the bullet, when it is watched from the camera). An angle between the velocity vector and the line that connects the camera with the bullet is \beta. Determine the length of the bullet as seen from the camera, i.e. how much of the ruler is hidden.

Homework Equations

Lorentz transformations, from which the formula for the length contraction follows:
l=\frac {l_0}{\gamma}

The Attempt at a Solution

I just don't get this problem. Why is the angle \beta given? Under the assumptions that the camera is far from the bullet and that the bullet is close to the ruler, isn't the length of the bullet measured just the contracted length? Angle \beta will be changed, but I just can't see where it goes in this story.

 

[PWiz]

Hint: length contraction always occurs along the direction of motion.

 

[Caneholder123]

Hint: length contraction always occurs along the direction of motion.

I didn't position the camera reference frame right. Thank you for the help.

 

[Sagar Singh]

Do you know the answer bro??

 

[Caneholder123]

Do you know the answer bro??

No, m8. I don't get it. Doesn't the bullet move only move in x-direction in camera reference frame too, or I am not reading this properly? Sorry for being late with the reply, I was extremely busy last two days.

 

[Sagar Singh]

No, m8. I don't get it. Doesn't the bullet move only move in x-direction in camera reference frame too, or I am not reading this properly? Sorry for being late with the reply, I was extremely busy last two days.

actually there are many contradictions in this question, i think this is not complete question

 

[Caneholder123]

Considering the approximations that the camera is far away from the bullet and that the bullet is right in front of the ruler, projection is just the length measured from the camera reference frame. And that length is \frac {l_0}{\gamma} because the motion is just in one direction.

 

[Caneholder123]

Hint: length contraction always occurs along the direction of motion.

I realize that. Can you help me with the setup of the problem?

 

[BoGGoG]

In case you're still wondering how to solve this: This exercise is from the "Problembook in Relativity and Gravitation" (Problem 1.5), see for example here:
http://apps.nrbook.com/relativity/index.html (need flash).

The key point is, that your camera measures the distance by receiving the photon from the front and from the back of the bullet simultaneously.
That means that the photon from the back of the bullet need so be sent earlier than from the front. In this time the bullet travels some length.

The solution is given in the book.