What is the relationship between classical and relativistic Doppler formulas?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between classical and relativistic Doppler formulas, particularly in the context of a hypothetical scenario involving spaceships turning around while traveling at relativistic speeds. Participants explore the implications of Doppler shifts, the timing of signals, and the physical limitations of such scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the Doppler shift experienced by the ships could transition from red to blue, potentially covering a broad spectrum beyond visible light, including radio and gamma rays.
  • Others argue that the timing of signals is crucial, and that the Doppler effect would be too rapid for human perception without sophisticated equipment.
  • There is a discussion about the physical limitations of turning around at relativistic speeds, with some participants questioning whether the rigidity under acceleration or energy requirements are the main issues.
  • Some participants propose that advanced instruments could allow astronauts to perceive shifts in the spectrum that are normally invisible to the human eye.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of accelerating spaceships to near light speed and the energy required for such maneuvers, with a suggestion that a slingshot approach might be a theoretical alternative.
  • One participant introduces the idea of spaceships emitting periodic flashes of electromagnetic energy to track each other, regardless of Doppler shifts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the complexity of the Doppler effect in relativistic contexts and the challenges of observing such phenomena. However, multiple competing views remain regarding the feasibility of the proposed scenarios and the implications of the Doppler shift.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unresolved assumptions about the physical capabilities of spaceships at relativistic speeds, the nature of the Doppler shift, and the practicality of the proposed observational techniques.

  • #31
sweet springs said:
Classical Doppler coeficient 1-\beta multiplied by \gamma becomes relativistic Doppler \sqrt{\frac{1-\beta}{1+\beta}}. Is this independent of the second postulate?
Where did you get that formulation for the classical Doppler coefficient? It has only one speed in it. It needs to have two, one for the source relative to the medium and one for the receiver relative to the medium. Here's the formula from wikipedia:

9150f5015026a8e96d0e7d6bbe11bb24.png
 
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  • #32
ghwellsjr said:
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Any receiver can regard that the medium of light rests with him. Put v_r=0 for IFR of the receiver. It is beyond a pure Newtonian view, I admit. Further, relativistic time dilation factor \gamma should be multiplied. I emphasized this factor.
 
  • #33
sweet springs said:
Any receiver can regard that the medium of light rests with him.
If that is true, then isn't it also true that any receiver can regard that the medium of light rests with the source? Or that the medium of light is traveling at any speed with regard to the receiver?

sweet springs said:
Put v_r=0 for IFR of the receiver.
If I do that, I don't get your Classical Doppler coefficient that you posted in #30.

sweet springs said:
It is beyond a pure Newtonian view, I admit.
Then why are you pursuing this?

sweet springs said:
Further, relativistic time dilation factor \gamma should be multiplied.
Why? Where is it declared that you should multiply by gamma instead of dividing or doing something else?

sweet springs said:
I emphasized this factor.
Did you come up with this argument on your own or can you provide a reference for it?

If you want to see how Special Relativity calculates the Relativistic Doppler factor, you can look in Einstein's 1905 paper in section 7:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/einstein/specrel/www/

I think you are misunderstanding what I am saying. Please go back and read my post #12 and see if there is anything in it that you disagree with or don't understand.
 
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  • #34
Thanks. I should be more careful.

Following the classical way obeserver at rest in media observe light from the source moving with speed beta (positive for leaving) as

\nu\ at\ rest=\frac{1}{1+\beta}\nu_0\ in\ motion

Observer moving in media observe light from the source at rest is

\nu\ in \ motion=(1-\beta)\nu_0\ at\ rest

In order these two coincide

\nu_0\ in\ motion=\sqrt{1-\beta^2}\nu_0\ at\ rest
\nu\ in\ motion=\sqrt{1-\beta^2}\nu\ at\ rest

Now we know there is no media. Choose one, at rest or in mortion, and delete the other.

\nu=\sqrt{\frac{1-\beta}{1+\beta}}\nu_0

Improved, I hope.
 
  • #35
PS FIrst order approximation for both the formula is \nu=(1-\beta)\nu_0. I confused it be classical Doppler effect of light.
 
  • #36
PS2 Formula \nu \ in \ motion = \sqrt{1-\beta^2}\ \nu\ at\ rest was derived as for motion against light media, however SR allow us to interprete it apply for any relative motion.
 
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  • #37
I'm sorry, I can't follow your logic. If you look in the wikipedia article on classical Doppler or in Einstein's paper, they both define two frequencies, one emitted at the source and one measured at the receiver. That's what Doppler is. Each equation establishes a relationship between these two different frequencies under different well-defined conditions of motion. Some of your equations include both frequencies but others include just one on both sides of the equation which doesn't make any sense. Not only that, but you aren't defining your terms or your conditions and you leave out steps so I don't know what you are doing. It would also help if you would explain what your purpose is in going through this exercise. It seems like you are trying to derive the Relativistic Doppler formula starting with the Classical Doppler formula by applying some logic but I'm not sure. It really helps to explain all the details.
 

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