Why Does a Moving Rod Appear Inclined in Different Reference Frames?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the apparent inclination of a moving rod in different reference frames, specifically analyzing the coordinates of its tips in frame S'. The calculations for the horizontal displacement, Δx, yield a result of γL, while the method for determining the vertical displacement, Δy, remains unclear. The user contemplates using the velocity composition formula and Lorentz transformations to derive Δy but encounters inconsistencies. They note that treating the rod as parallel to the x' axis leads to a contradiction, as it suggests Δy equals zero. The user seeks clarification on how to accurately represent the rod's orientation and movement across reference frames.
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Homework Statement
A ##S'## frame moves with velocity ##v\hat{e_{x}}## with respect to a S frame.



There's a rod with length ##L##, parallel to the ##x'## axis moving with velocity ##u \hat{e_{y'}}##.



Show that the rod seems inclined and what's the inclination angle?
Relevant Equations
##t = \gamma (t' + vx')##

##x = \gamma(x' + vt')##

##t' = \gamma (t - vx)##

##x' = \gamma(x - vt)##
Ateempt of solution:

There are two key coordinates in this scenario, the leftmost tip of the rod, which in ##S'## is ##C_{0} = (t', 0, ut',0)## and the opposite tip
##C_{1} = (t', L,ut',0)##

An angle ##\phi## could be found through a relationship such as ##tan(\phi) = \frac{ \Delta x}{ \Delta y} ##

For ##\Delta x## I have
## x_{0} = \gamma ( x_{0'} + vt') = \gamma vt'## and

##x_{1} = \gamma (x_{1'} + vt') = \gamma (L + vt')##.

##\Delta x = \gamma (L + vt' - vt') = \gamma L##

For ##\Delta y## I'm not sure how to calculate its coordinates in ##S##. Should I use the velocity composition formula? The lorentz transformations would be trivially applied then?

Edit:
I tried to deduce a composition for this case in the following manner

In ##S'##, ##u_{s'} = \frac {\Delta y'}{\Delta t'} ##

I can write these for ##S## to find ##\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta t}##

##u_{s'} = \frac {\Delta y}{\gamma (\Delta t - v \Delta x)} ## and dividing by ##\Delta t##

##u_{s'} = \frac{ u_{s}}{\gamma (1 - v u_{s})}##

Solving for ##u_{s}## I get ##u_{s} = \frac{ u_{s'} \gamma}{1+ \gamma u_{s'} v}##

So to find the ##y## coordinates do I use

##y = \gamma_{u_{s}} (y' + u_{s} t')##

but this is wrong because all these parameters are the same for both ##C_{0'}## and ##C_{1'}##, what would imply ##y_{0} = y_{1}## hence ##\Delta y = 0##
 
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The rod is parallel to the ##x'## axis. You have it parallel to the ##y'## axis.
 
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PeroK said:
The rod is parallel to the x′ axis. You have it parallel to the y′ axis.
Thanks, I'll edit the post
 
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