Re: the Ultimate Frame of Reference



Steven wrote:
> Assume a meteor spontaneously appears 10 light years away, moving
> directly
> toward the earth at a speed of .95c. The distance and speed are based
> upon the earth's typical frame of reference. At this rate it will reach
> earth in about 10.5 years.
>
> 10 years later the meteor will first become visible to the earth,
> appearing to be 10 light years away. 6 months later it will arrive.
> The Doppler Effect will make the meteor appear to move much faster than
> the speed of light. In 6 months it appears to have traveled 10 light
> years. The meteor is essentially "chasing its own image" so the
> information gets all bunched up together.
>
> >From the perspective of the meteor, the earth will be visible to as
> soon as the meteor appears. Without taking relativity theory into
> account, earth would seem to be 10 light years away. According to
> relativity theory, length constriction would cause the earth to appear
> to be closer than it actually is. It's possible that relativity theory
> exactly compensates for any discrepancies of symmetry.
>
> The situation does not seem symmetrical because the meteor is "chasing
> its own image" while the earth is not. The sense of "chasing one's
> image" gives me the impression that there is a universal frame of
> reference, since it can be determined who the image-chaser is or is
> not.

But it *is* symmetrical. Remember, all the clocks in the moving frame
are out of sync with ours. From the meteor it would appear that the
earth is chasing its image toward the meteor.

Bruce

.

Relevant Pages

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    ... > Say a meteor spontaneously appears 10 light years away, ... > At this rate it will reach earth in about 10.5 years. ... and conclude that the velocity is .95c. ... Of course it's possible to *seem* to be traveling at 20c, ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: the Ultimate Frame of Reference
    ... Assume a meteor spontaneously appears 10 light years away, ... toward the earth at a speed of .95c. ... relativity theory, length constriction would cause the earth to appear ... The situation does not seem symmetrical because the meteor is "chasing ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: the Ultimate Frame of Reference
    ... > Assume a meteor spontaneously appears 10 light years away, ... > toward the earth at a speed of .95c. ... The meteor is essentially "chasing its own image" so the ... > relativity theory, length constriction would cause the earth to appear ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
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