- #1
Thecla
- 135
- 10
Suppose the earth, moon, and an extraterrestial observer(ET) are at the corner of an equilateral triangle. The Earth observer points a laser at the moon and emits a powerful laser pulse for exactly .01 seconds. The 1,860 mile long pulse travels to the moon in about 1.3 seconds. The ET knows that the pulse is .01 seconds long because he has been monitoring the Earth scientists' conversations, but the ET can't see the pulse in the vacuum of space. Suppose, however, there is a low density of dust particles in space that scatters some of the light in the direction of the ET(similar to the visualization of a searchlight beam on a foggy night). The ET will see a 1,862 mile long "blip" travel to the moon in 1.3 seconds.
Or will he?
The pulse is moving at the speed of light and the ET knows the pulse lasted for.01 seconds(1,862 miles long). Knowing that Lorentz contraction always shrinks an object in the direction of motion, the ET was expecting the Lorentz contrcted pulse to be shorter than 1,862 miles.What is the reason the light pulse is not Lorentz contracted? Is it because the pulse is not a material object and is therefore exempt from relativistic effects?
Or will he?
The pulse is moving at the speed of light and the ET knows the pulse lasted for.01 seconds(1,862 miles long). Knowing that Lorentz contraction always shrinks an object in the direction of motion, the ET was expecting the Lorentz contrcted pulse to be shorter than 1,862 miles.What is the reason the light pulse is not Lorentz contracted? Is it because the pulse is not a material object and is therefore exempt from relativistic effects?