Special relativity barn pole thought experiment

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a thought experiment involving special relativity, specifically comparing the shape of cookies produced on a moving conveyor belt in different reference frames. In the lab frame, the cookies appear circular due to the motion of the conveyor belt being analogous to the cookies' motion. However, in the conveyor belt frame, the participant struggles to understand the implications of relativistic effects on the shape of the cookies, drawing parallels to the barn pole thought experiment. This highlights the complexities of visualizing relativistic transformations in practical scenarios.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity concepts
  • Familiarity with reference frames in physics
  • Basic knowledge of relativistic effects on length contraction
  • Ability to visualize thought experiments in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of length contraction in special relativity
  • Explore the barn pole thought experiment in detail
  • Investigate the implications of reference frame transformations
  • Learn about relativistic effects on different shapes and objects
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching special relativity, and anyone interested in understanding the implications of relativistic motion on everyday objects.

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Homework Statement


cookie dough lies on a conveyor belt which moves at speed v. A circular stamp stamps out cookies as the dough rushes by beneath it. When you buy these cookies in a store, what shape are they? That is, re they squashed in the direction of the belt, stretched in that direction, or circular? You don't have to be quantitative, but you must explain your (qualitative) reasoning in both the lab frame and the conveyor belt frame.



Homework Equations


n/A


The Attempt at a Solution


in the lab frame, the cookies will come out circular because the motion of the cookies are analogous to the motion of the conveyor belt and from that perspective the stamp is very much a circle.
in the conveyor belt frame, I'm much more lost. What's the difference between being squashed and being stretched in the direction of the conveyor belt?
 
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It sounds to me that this thought experiment is very similar to the barn pole thought experiment, although it seems a bit harder to picture relativistic cookies than relativistic poles :).
 

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