- #1
Scherejg
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Homework Statement
Imagine two clocks that both perform uniform circular motion of radius a in the x-y plane, but in opposite directions: xμ(u) ={t, a cos(ωt),±a sin(ωt), 0}. Suppose these clocks are synchronized to agree when they are coincident at x = a at t = 0. How much time elapses until the next time the clocks are at x = a, as seen by each clock as well as by the inertial observer whose time is labelled by t?
Homework Equations
xμ(u) ={t, a cos(ωt),±a sin(ωt), 0}
xσ(u)= {t,0,0,0}
The Attempt at a Solution
The trajectories are symmetrical, so I only need to calculate the proper time elapsed for in one of the moving reference frames and it should be the same for the other.
First I converted each trajectory into its proper time. I set t=γτ where τ=tau
xμ(u) ={γτ, a cos(ωγτ),±a sin(ωγτ), 0}
Then I wanted the 4-velocities so I could determine how the opposite observer looks in one of the moving reference frames.
dxμ(u)/dτ =γ{1, -aωsin(ωγτ),±aωcos(ωγτ), 0}. The γ and τ are different depending on the trajectory.
I then subtracted the velocity vectors from each other.
xΩ=γ+-γ-{1, -aωsin(ωγ+τ+)-aωsin(ωγ-τ-),aωcos(ωγ+τ+)-aωcos(ωγ-τ-), 0}
So that equation is what the observer moving in the +sin direction would see in his reference frame for the observer moving in -sin direction. Now I need to determine how much time elapses between t=0 and the next time they meet.
I think this is at points where τ+=τ-? This is where I am confused. Is my reasoning good so far?