How Does Motion Affect Mass and Electric Fields in Different Inertial Frames?

In summary, for an observer in a different inertial frame, an object's length is contracted in the direction of its motion, its mass increases under motion, and the strength of an electron's field is increased orthogonally to the direction of motion. However, the statement about the reduction of the electron's field in the direction of motion may be incorrect, as it depends on the specific scenario. There may also be a connection between the mass increase of an object and the field increase of an electron, as described in published papers discussing the weight changes of a system in an accelerated frame.
  • #1
Emanresu
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I believe the following are all true for an observer in a different inertial frame :

An object's length is contracted in the direction of its motion
An object's mass increases under motion
The strength of an electron's field is reduced in the direction of motion
The strength of an electron's field is increased orthogonally to the direction of motion

Have I got this right ? If so, is there a connection between the mass increase of an object and the field increase of an electron ?

E.
 
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  • #2
it isn't exactly mass increase.It is just energy that increases inertia
 
  • #3
Also the E and B fields of a moving electron are more complicated.
 
  • #4
Indeed, the important thing to remember about electromagnetism is that E and B are not true vectors. Their representations in terms of vector potential, A, are true however, and transform correctly under special relativity.
 
  • #5
Emanresu said:
is there a connection between the mass increase of an object and the field increase of an electron ?
Quite likely. There's a few published papers around discussing how when two (or more) charges are held nearby one another (changing the total energy of the system), you can even uncover the mechanism by which the weight of the system changes (basically, in an accelerated frame, each electron's asymetric field results in an unbalanced inertia-like force).
 
  • #6
Emanresu said:
I believe the following are all true for an observer in a different inertial frame :

An object's length is contracted in the direction of its motion
Yes.
An object's mass increases under motion
This is ambiguous as stated. Invariant mass does not change with motion. Relativistic mass does change with motion. See the usual FAQ's.
The strength of an electron's field is reduced in the direction of motion
Most likely wrong. If you have two observers at the same point in space-time that are moving relative to each other, the parallel component of the E-field will not change. You may be thinking of a different scenario. See for instance http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~rfield/PHY2061/images/relativity_13.pdf

The strength of an electron's field is increased orthogonally to the direction of motion

Yes, as per the above link, with the same scenario (two obsevers in relative motion at the same point measure how the E-field transforms).
 
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FAQ: How Does Motion Affect Mass and Electric Fields in Different Inertial Frames?

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a region in space around a charged object where other charged objects experience a force. The strength and direction of the electric field is determined by the magnitude and location of the charge creating it.

How is electric field measured?

Electric field is measured in units of newtons per coulomb (N/C). This unit represents the force experienced by a 1 coulomb charge at a given point in the electric field.

What is the relationship between electric field and mass?

Electric field does not have a direct relationship with mass. However, the mass of charged objects can affect the strength of the electric field they create. Objects with a larger mass will have a weaker electric field compared to objects with a smaller mass.

How does length affect electric field?

Length also does not have a direct relationship with electric field. However, the distance between charged objects can affect the strength of the electric field between them. As the distance increases, the electric field decreases.

How is electric field related to electric potential?

Electric field and electric potential are related by the equation E = -∇V, where E is the electric field, V is the electric potential, and ∇ represents the gradient operator. This equation shows that electric field is the negative gradient of electric potential.

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