Re: SR and math limits

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 23:29:58 +1000, "Jeckyl" <noone@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"David" <dseppala@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:9em3a3lev1v4h3ki3g9bce25v08roeip96@xxxxxxxxxx
On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 09:41:23 +1000, "Jeckyl" <noone@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


"David" <dseppala@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hdg1a3du2h1as19ktrc74rvc9gvoac8nbd@xxxxxxxxxx
In my reference frame which I'll call the rest frame, I have a 1000
meter rod (the proper length of the rod in its own frame) traveling
with velocity V along the x-axis. It is length contracteded as
measured in my rest frame. If a proton is traveling along the y-axis
in the rest frame with Einstein's SR equations, if the velocity V of
the rod is large enough the proton can simultaneously (as measured in
the rest frame) hit all points along the x-axis of the rod. This
single proton would hit an incredibly large number of atoms.
In the rod's frame, the proton is length contracted. So it must hit
this incredibly large number of atoms one at a time without being
deflected to hit the same atoms that were hit in the rest frame.

Relativity of simultaneity comes into play
As in the posting of this problem, one frame observes the proton
simultaneously hitting N atoms while the other frame observes the
proton (or parts of it?) hitting the N atoms sequentially in time, N
is an arbitrarily large number of atoms. V just has to approach c for
this to occur.

Yes .. is that a problem for you?
Yes, Daryl says the proton will only hit one of the atoms, and
hypothesizes that particles that make up the proton could concieveably
hit other atoms in this string of atoms along the x-axis.
But if we look at a case of two atoms on the x-axis separated by a
long distance say a light-year as measured in one frame, and separated
by much less than the size of a proton in another frame, then in the
second frame the proton can hit both atoms simultaneously. From the
point of view of the frame where the two atoms are a light-year apart
that would mean either only one atom collides with the proton or the
proton hits the atom, and then the remanents from that collision
travel a light-year and hit the second atom.
So if we say accept the theory the proton only interacts at most
one atom so that only one of the two atoms is involved in the
collision as Daryl suggests, then if I have 10**N atoms aligned along
the x-axis that are all hit simultaneously by this single proton as
measured in one frame, and the proton can only interact with one atom,
then in the other frame, the proton all but one of the 10**N atoms
must sequentially occupy the same point in space and time without any
collision occuring. That seems rather bizarre to think that that must
occur simply because of the math limits of Einstein's equations.
If we accept the notion that the proton interacts with all of 10**N
atoms, independent of the separation between atoms (which could extend
over light-years) that seems equally bizarre to accept simply because
of the math limits of Einstein's equations.
David

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Spinning Ball Paradox (contradiction?)
    ... Let a moving frame have velocity V along the x-axis. ... such that this 10 light-year span of the balls ... other is sequentially hit by the projectile. ... we fire a single proton in the moving frame. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR and math limits
    ... meter rod traveling ... measured in my rest frame. ... If a proton is traveling along the y-axis ... single proton would hit an incredibly large number of atoms. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR and math limits
    ... meter rod traveling ... measured in my rest frame. ... If a proton is traveling along the y-axis ... single proton would hit an incredibly large number of atoms. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR and math limits
    ... meter rod traveling ... measured in my rest frame. ... If a proton is traveling along the y-axis ... single proton would hit an incredibly large number of atoms. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: SR and math limits
    ... meter rod traveling ... measured in my rest frame. ... If a proton is traveling along the y-axis ... single proton would hit an incredibly large number of atoms. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)