Same experiment performed in different inertial reference frames

In summary, under which conditions we could say that the same experiment is performed in different inertial reference frames.
  • #1
bernhard.rothenstein
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under which conditions we could say that the same experiment is performed in different inertial reference frames. I have formulated for myself the following answer:
We say that observers from two inertial reference frames perform the same experiment if the physical quantities they measure are related by the corresponding relativistic transformation equations.
should i say more?
 
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  • #2
bernhard.rothenstein said:
under which conditions we could say that the same experiment is performed in different inertial reference frames. I have formulated for myself the following answer:
We say that observers from two inertial reference frames perform the same experiment if the physical quantities they measure are related by the corresponding relativistic transformation equations.
should i say more?

Hi Bernhard,

Most of the times we deal with an experiment performed in one frame and observed from another frame, do you have instances when you are interested in having the same experiment performed in more than one frame?
If I misunderstood your post above it may mean that your question needs to be clarified a little.
 
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  • #3
bernhard.rothenstein said:
under which conditions we could say that the same experiment is performed in different inertial reference frames. I have formulated for myself the following answer:
We say that observers from two inertial reference frames perform the same experiment if the physical quantities they measure are related by the corresponding relativistic transformation equations.
should i say more?
Well perhaps I do not understand what you mean my understanding is that any particular experiment performed in a particular reference frame, inertial or not, should give exactly the same results in any other reference frame.
However if one measures something from a different frame of reference then the measurements need to be adjusted by relativistic transformations.
 
  • #4
clj4 said:
Hi Bernhard,

Most of the times we deal with an experiment performed in one frame and observed from another frame, do you have instances when you are interested in having the same experiment performed in more than one frame?
If I misunderstood your post above it may mean that your question needs to be clarified a little.
I have in mind the problem of the wave front relativity. If I consider that at the origin of both reference frames I have a source of light then the wave front is a sphere in both reference frames and we say that in both of them the same experiment was performed. If I consider that at the origin of one of the reference frames I have a source of light then there the wave front is a sphere but when detected from another reference frame it is an ellipsoid and the space time coordinates of the same event genertated by a light signal are related by the Lorentz-Einstein transformations. Can I say that the same experiment is performed in the two frames?
Sine ira et studio
 
  • #5
bernhard.rothenstein said:
at the origin of both reference frames I have a source of light...at the origin of one of the reference frames the wave front is a X ... but when detected from another reference frame it is an Y

See how I have edited your comment. Here is your experiment:

Source at the origin of two different reference frames. Measure wavefront in one frame. Measure wave front in other frame.

If my interpretation of your post is correct, then yes, you performed the same experiment in two different reference frames, namely measuring the shape of the wavefront.
 
  • #6
bernhard.rothenstein said:
I have in mind the problem of the wave front relativity. If I consider that at the origin of both reference frames I have a source of light then the wave front is a sphere in both reference frames and we say that in both of them the same experiment was performed. If I consider that at the origin of one of the reference frames I have a source of light then there the wave front is a sphere but when detected from another reference frame it is an ellipsoid and the space time coordinates of the same event genertated by a light signal are related by the Lorentz-Einstein transformations. Can I say that the same experiment is performed in the two frames?
Sine ira et studio

Well, first of all, in BOTH frames the wavefront is a sphere since you are using light. Otherwise, the experiment described above would violate both postulats of relativity by detecting a different shape wavefront in the two frames (ellipsoid vs. sphere).
Yes, you can say that the same experiment is performed in two frames but the cleaner statement would be that it is being performed in frame A and it is being observed from frame B in motion with constant speed v relative to frame A.

The above experiment is one of the many thought experiments used to derive the Lorentz transforms so you cannot mention the Lorentz transforms until the very end.
 
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FAQ: Same experiment performed in different inertial reference frames

1. What is an inertial reference frame?

An inertial reference frame is a coordinate system in which the laws of physics hold true without any acceleration. This means that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.

2. Why is it important to perform experiments in different inertial reference frames?

Performing experiments in different inertial reference frames allows scientists to test the universality of physical laws. If the results of an experiment are consistent across different inertial reference frames, it provides evidence that the laws of physics are the same in all frames.

3. How does the same experiment differ in different inertial reference frames?

In the same experiment, the laws of physics will remain the same in different inertial reference frames. However, the observations and measurements of the experiment may differ due to the relative motion of the frames. For example, the speed and direction of an object may appear different in different frames, but the laws governing its motion will remain the same.

4. What is the principle of relativity?

The principle of relativity states that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames. This means that there is no preferred or absolute reference frame, and the laws of physics should hold true regardless of the observer's relative motion.

5. Can the same experiment be performed in non-inertial reference frames?

Technically, the same experiment can be performed in non-inertial reference frames, but the results may be affected by the acceleration of the frame. In these cases, it is important to take into account the effects of acceleration when analyzing the data. Inertial reference frames provide a simpler and more consistent environment for performing experiments.

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