The General Relativity Elevator Thing

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the implications of General Relativity, specifically the equivalence principle, which states that it is impossible to distinguish between gravitational force and constant acceleration in a vacuum. A participant proposes a method to differentiate between being on Earth and in a constantly accelerating elevator by observing the effects of acceleration over time, particularly as speed approaches the speed of light. The conclusion emphasizes that while external observers perceive a decrease in coordinate acceleration, passengers experience constant acceleration, highlighting the difference in perspectives within relativistic physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of General Relativity and the equivalence principle
  • Basic knowledge of relativistic physics and concepts like speed of light (c)
  • Familiarity with the effects of acceleration on time perception
  • Mathematical skills to analyze relativistic equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the equivalence principle in General Relativity
  • Study the effects of relativistic speeds on time dilation and acceleration
  • Explore the concept of inertial frames in physics
  • Learn about the mathematical formulations of General Relativity, including the Einstein field equations
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the foundational concepts of General Relativity and its practical implications in understanding acceleration and gravity.

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O.k., correct me if I'm wrong because I'm new to the concepts of relativity and other stuff, but I have a question. General Relativity says that, in the vacuum of space, there is no way to tell whether a downward force is being caused by gravity or constant acelleration, right? Well, I thought of a way to find out. As your speed increased and aproached the speed of light, the rate of acelleration would slow down, right. I did some math out and found that, if you didn't know if you were on Earth or in one of these elevators, you could just wait like 130 minutes, then you would know. I don't know if this thought was good for anything, but I figured I'd share it anyway.
 
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Consider a rocket propelled by an engine that can deliver a constant thrust for a long time. Even though its coordinate acceleration as measured by an external observer must decrease as the speed approaches c, passengers inside the rocket would still "feel" a constant acceleration.
 
K, thanks. I guess I was confusing perspectives.
 

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