Is the Norm of Four-Acceleration Always Equal to Proper Frame Acceleration?

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In summary, the norm of four acceleration is equal to the magnitude of the proper frame's acceleration, which is proven through the invariance of the four-acceleration in all frames.
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johnahn
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I saw that the norm of four acceleration is equal to the magnitude of proper frame's acceleration.

So, if the observer moves in x direction, following equation about norm of it's 4 acceleration is like that

-(d^2 t / dτ^2) + (d^2 x / dτ^2) = d^2 x / dt^2

In comoving frame(proper frame), proper time is equals to t, so the first term in the left side vanishes, and the remain term is equal to the right side.

I tried to proof this relationship generally... but it's very hard for me.

Now I confused whether the general proof exists, or not...
 
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johnahn, Here's the general relationship. It gets messy! If the 4-velocity is v = (γv, γc) so v·v = c2, then the 4-acceleration is

a ≡ dv/dτ = (γ2a + γ4(v·a)v/c2, γ4(v·a)/c) where a is the 3-acceleration, a = dv/dt.

The norm of this is a·a = -γ6a·a + γ6/c2[(v·a)2 - (v·v)(a·a)].

In the special case that v and a are parallel, it reduces to |a| = γ3|a|.
 
  • #3
johnahn said:
I saw that the norm of four acceleration is equal to the magnitude of proper frame's acceleration.
...
I tried to proof this relationship generally... but it's very hard for me.

Now I confused whether the general proof exists, or not...
The norm of the four-acceleration is invariant. So if you prove it in one frame then you have proved it in all frames.
 

FAQ: Is the Norm of Four-Acceleration Always Equal to Proper Frame Acceleration?

What is the norm of four-acceleration?

The norm of four-acceleration is a measure of the acceleration experienced by an object in four-dimensional spacetime. It takes into account both the magnitude and direction of acceleration.

How is the norm of four-acceleration calculated?

The norm of four-acceleration is calculated using the Minkowski metric, which is a mathematical tool used to measure the distance between two events in four-dimensional spacetime. It involves taking the dot product of the four-acceleration vector with itself.

What is the significance of the norm of four-acceleration?

The norm of four-acceleration is significant because it is a relativistic quantity that remains the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. It is also used to calculate the proper time experienced by an object undergoing acceleration.

How does the norm of four-acceleration relate to special relativity?

The concept of four-acceleration and its norm is a key component of special relativity, as it allows for the description of motion in four-dimensional spacetime. It is used to derive important equations, such as the Lorentz transformations, which describe how measurements of time and space differ for observers in relative motion.

What are some practical applications of the norm of four-acceleration?

The norm of four-acceleration has practical applications in fields such as physics, astronomy, and engineering. It is used to describe the motion of objects in space, such as planets and galaxies, and is also important in the development of technologies such as GPS systems and satellites.

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