This discussion centers on the implications of time dilation on the first law of thermodynamics, particularly in hypothetical scenarios involving a heater in a time dilation field. Participants explore how power consumption and energy dissipation would differ for observers inside and outside such a field. The consensus is that while the first law remains intact, the second law of thermodynamics may appear violated under certain conditions, such as when heating objects in a fast-flowing time environment. The conversation highlights the need for a covariant treatment of electrical circuits in gravitational fields to reconcile these theoretical discrepancies.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the intersection of thermodynamics and relativistic physics, particularly in theoretical scenarios involving time dilation and energy transfer.
Sure, you could do that. In the end, that would amount to transforming to the rest frame and doing standard circuit analysis in the rest frame.jartsa said:Okay then, let's not ignore any current, but let's divide the confusing current into two components:
1: the current that goes through the wire, carried by slowly flowing electron gas.
2: the current that goes through empty space, carried by fast moving charged wire.
Then we consider the two currents separately. No current gets ignored, and hopefully we don't get confused.
Yes, that is clear and concise. Well said.vanhees71 said:Of course Kirchhoff circuit theory is not Lorentz covariant since it's an application of the quasi-stationary approximation, i.e., Maxwell's displacement current is ignored, and this violates Lorentz covariance.