- #1
APhysicist
- 39
- 0
Hi all,
I'm starting to learn a bit of general relativity now, but I'm a bit confused as to the measurement of speed.
Let's say we use the Schwarzschild metric.
Now, I can parametrize the wordline of a certain object by giving a
parametrisation (t(tau),r(tau),theta(tau),phi(tau)), where tau is the proper time of
that object. Now, I would like to know how to measure the speed of the object;
that is, the magnitude of its 3-velocity. I can find the 4-velocity, but can I deduce in a meaningful way the speed, i.e. as observed by an observer 'at rest' in the frame
(of course, 'at rest' is a relative concept - I'm referring to the observer at infinity, where the Schwarzschild metric is more or less flat)?
From special relativity, I recall that you could write the 4-velocity
as (gamma,gamma*V) where gamma is the usual gamma factor and V is the three-velocity.
I'm looking for something analogous - if that's meaningful.
Thanks,
APhysicist
I'm starting to learn a bit of general relativity now, but I'm a bit confused as to the measurement of speed.
Let's say we use the Schwarzschild metric.
Now, I can parametrize the wordline of a certain object by giving a
parametrisation (t(tau),r(tau),theta(tau),phi(tau)), where tau is the proper time of
that object. Now, I would like to know how to measure the speed of the object;
that is, the magnitude of its 3-velocity. I can find the 4-velocity, but can I deduce in a meaningful way the speed, i.e. as observed by an observer 'at rest' in the frame
(of course, 'at rest' is a relative concept - I'm referring to the observer at infinity, where the Schwarzschild metric is more or less flat)?
From special relativity, I recall that you could write the 4-velocity
as (gamma,gamma*V) where gamma is the usual gamma factor and V is the three-velocity.
I'm looking for something analogous - if that's meaningful.
Thanks,
APhysicist