A moving rod; two Lorentz boosts compared with one

I
Thread starter Hiero
Start date Apr 16, 2018
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Lorentz Rod

In summary: The rod will end up rotated by a single boost, (because one component is contracted and the other isn't,) but surely that's not what's meant by "Wigner... rotations"?I'm not sure. It seems like you might be thinking of rotations in terms of the coordinate system being rotated, not the object itself rotating. In that case, yes, the rod would wind up rotated by a single boost.

Apr 18, 2018

Dale

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Hiero said:

The three vectors I was speaking of

Oh, I also thought you were speaking of four vectors.

<h2>1. How does a moving rod behave under two Lorentz boosts compared to one?</h2><p>Under two Lorentz boosts, the length of a moving rod will appear to contract even more than under one Lorentz boost. This is due to the fact that each boost affects the rod's length in different directions, resulting in a greater overall contraction.</p><h2>2. Why is the concept of Lorentz boosts important in understanding the behavior of a moving rod?</h2><p>Lorentz boosts are important because they describe how objects appear to change in length and time when moving at high speeds. This is crucial in understanding the effects of relativity and how they impact the behavior of a moving rod.</p><h2>3. Can a moving rod experience length contraction without undergoing a Lorentz boost?</h2><p>No, length contraction is a result of the relativistic effects of a Lorentz boost. Without a boost, the rod will not experience any change in length.</p><h2>4. How does the direction of motion affect the length contraction of a moving rod under two Lorentz boosts?</h2><p>The direction of motion does not affect the amount of length contraction under two Lorentz boosts. However, the direction of the boosts themselves will impact the overall contraction of the rod.</p><h2>5. Is the concept of Lorentz boosts limited to just rods or does it apply to other objects as well?</h2><p>The concept of Lorentz boosts applies to all objects in motion, not just rods. Any object moving at high speeds will experience length contraction and time dilation, as described by the theory of relativity.</p>

Related to A moving rod; two Lorentz boosts compared with one

1. How does a moving rod behave under two Lorentz boosts compared to one?

Under two Lorentz boosts, the length of a moving rod will appear to contract even more than under one Lorentz boost. This is due to the fact that each boost affects the rod's length in different directions, resulting in a greater overall contraction.

2. Why is the concept of Lorentz boosts important in understanding the behavior of a moving rod?

Lorentz boosts are important because they describe how objects appear to change in length and time when moving at high speeds. This is crucial in understanding the effects of relativity and how they impact the behavior of a moving rod.

3. Can a moving rod experience length contraction without undergoing a Lorentz boost?

No, length contraction is a result of the relativistic effects of a Lorentz boost. Without a boost, the rod will not experience any change in length.

4. How does the direction of motion affect the length contraction of a moving rod under two Lorentz boosts?

The direction of motion does not affect the amount of length contraction under two Lorentz boosts. However, the direction of the boosts themselves will impact the overall contraction of the rod.

5. Is the concept of Lorentz boosts limited to just rods or does it apply to other objects as well?

The concept of Lorentz boosts applies to all objects in motion, not just rods. Any object moving at high speeds will experience length contraction and time dilation, as described by the theory of relativity.