- #1
Hernik
- 108
- 2
Hi! Question: Is the following possible in principle or am I missing some important rules in relativity which makes it impossible?
Imagine a spaceship which can travel at relativistic velocity. It is 10 kilometers long and equipped with two sensors, 1 and 2, placed in each end of the ship. Right in the middle is an office from where Mr Jensen registers and records the signals from the two sensors. Wiring to and from the sensors is identical. So a signal from sensor 1 reaches the office in exactly the same amount of time as a signal from sensor 2.
Also consider two stars, A and B, that orbit each other in such a way that they always are separated by 10 million kilometers.
Now the spaceship takes off in direction of A and B in order to pass the two stars almost at the speed of light. Jensen is on board attending his duties. Coincidently the dining room is in the front end of the spaceship whereas the toilet is in the back. This means Jensen has to walk back and forth every day. When doing so, he always measures the distance between the front and the back end of the ship...which is of course always 10 km, no matter how much the spaceship is accelerated.
The space journey is timed in such a way, that when the ship passes the two stars up close they are aligned parallel to the direction of the spaceship. As sensor 1 passes star A it sends off a signal to the office, and as sensor 2 passes star B it sends of a signal to the office.
But here comes the part where I do not feel so sure: If the velocity is right, is it possible that Jensen registers the two signals exactly at the same time?
Henrik
Imagine a spaceship which can travel at relativistic velocity. It is 10 kilometers long and equipped with two sensors, 1 and 2, placed in each end of the ship. Right in the middle is an office from where Mr Jensen registers and records the signals from the two sensors. Wiring to and from the sensors is identical. So a signal from sensor 1 reaches the office in exactly the same amount of time as a signal from sensor 2.
Also consider two stars, A and B, that orbit each other in such a way that they always are separated by 10 million kilometers.
Now the spaceship takes off in direction of A and B in order to pass the two stars almost at the speed of light. Jensen is on board attending his duties. Coincidently the dining room is in the front end of the spaceship whereas the toilet is in the back. This means Jensen has to walk back and forth every day. When doing so, he always measures the distance between the front and the back end of the ship...which is of course always 10 km, no matter how much the spaceship is accelerated.
The space journey is timed in such a way, that when the ship passes the two stars up close they are aligned parallel to the direction of the spaceship. As sensor 1 passes star A it sends off a signal to the office, and as sensor 2 passes star B it sends of a signal to the office.
But here comes the part where I do not feel so sure: If the velocity is right, is it possible that Jensen registers the two signals exactly at the same time?
Henrik