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

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
Data Base Erased
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
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##
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
PeroK said:
The rod is parallel to the x′ axis. You have it parallel to the y′ axis.
Thanks, I'll edit the post