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Explore the principles of special relativity, Lorentz transformation, time dilation, and paradoxes. Understand relativistic rockets and resolve complex scenarios. Dive into the Twin Paradox and more.
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Faster-Than-Light Paradoxesin Special Relativity Brice N. Cassenti
Faster-Than-Light Paradoxesin Special Relativity • Principle of Special Relativity • Paradoxes in Special Relativity • Relativistic Rockets • Conclusions
Principle of Special Relativity • Postulates • Lorentz Transformation • Lorentz Contraction • Time Dilation
Postulates of the Special Theory of Relativity • The laws of physics are the same in all inertial coordinate systems • The speed of light is the same in all inertial coordinate systems
Lorentz Transformation Derivation • Assume transformation is linear • Assume speed of light is the same in each frame
Relative Motion (x,ct) v (x’,ct’)
Lorentz Transformation Inverse transformation Use of hyperbolic functions
Coordinate Systems ct ‘ ct x ‘ x
Lorentz Contraction • Length is measured in a frame by noting end point locations at a given time. • When observing a rod in a moving frame, with its length in the direction of motion the frame, the length is shorter by: • The result holds in either frame.
Time Dilation • Time is measured in a frame by watching a clock fixed in the moving frame. • When observing a clock in a moving frame the clock runs slower by: • The result holds in either frame.
Paradoxes in Special Relativity • Pole Vaulter • Twin Paradox • Faster-than-Light Travel • Instant Messaging
Pole Vaulter & Barn 15 ft 10 ft
Pole Vaulter & Barn v 7.5 ft 10 ft
Pole Vaulter & Barn v 15 ft 5 ft
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Pole entirely inside barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Pole entirely inside barn • Back door opens
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Pole entirely inside barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Pole entirely inside barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Back end of pole leaves barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxBarn View • Front door opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Pole entirely inside barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Back end of pole leaves barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Both ends of pole never in barn simultaneously
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Both ends of pole never in barn simultaneously • Back end of pole enters barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Both ends of pole never in barn simultaneously • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Both ends of pole never in barn simultaneously • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Back end of pole leaves barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxPole Vaulter View • Front doors opens • Forward end of pole enters barn • Back door opens • Front end of pole leaves barn • Both ends of pole never in barn simultaneously • Back end of pole enters barn • Front door closes • Back end of pole leaves barn
Pole Vaulter ParadoxResolution • Use Lorentz transformation • In barn view, time interval from back door closing to front door opening is less than time light needs to cover distance • In pole vaulter view, time from front of pole to leave and back to enter is less than time light needs to cover distance along pole • Lorentz transformation correctly predicts both views correctly from both the barn and pole vaulter frames
Pole Vaulter Paradox - Conclusion Faster-than-light signals would allow contradictions in observations
Twin Paradox • One of two identical twins leaves at a speed such that each twin sees the other clock running at half the rate of theirs • The traveling twin reverses speed and returns • Does each think the other has aged half as much?
Twin ParadoxResolution • In order to set out turn around and stop at the return the traveling twin accelerates. • The traveling twin feels the acceleration. • Hence, the traveling twin is not in an inertial frame. • The stationary twin ages twice as much as the traveling twin.
Twin Paradox - Resolution Constant Acceleration http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/TwinParadox/twin_vase.html
Twin Paradox - Resolution Infinite Acceleration http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/TwinParadox/twin_vase.html
Twin Paradox - Conclusion Accelerating reference frames need to be treated with a more General Theory of Relativity
Faster-than-Light Travel – Conclusion Faster-than-Light motion reverses travel through time – a time machine
The Mathematics ofFaster-than-Light Travel • Recall • Setting • Then • If • Then • Let • And • Or