Re: A question on inelastic relativistic collisions

["Miguel A. Santos" <msantos@ETSE.URV.ES>]

> > Ed Schweber wrote:
> > objects themselves. If different observers measure different changes in KE,
> > but the same change in temperature they must also measure different specific
> > heats.
>  Why should they measure the same temp.? They won't in general.
>         Miguel A. Santos
 Well, you were refering to 'temp. change' not just temp. I see,
my reply was not adequate.
 However, I expect both observers will measure different temps both
before and after the collision. I expect the ratio of their measurements
will depend on  gamma=sqrt[1-(v/c)**2] in the same way as the ratio of the
temp. changes they measure.
 I got this asuming the equipartition theorem and applying a naive
rescaling of mass and velocity within the average of KE, when
both observers move with relative velocity v along the x direction.

 As KE is different for both observers so will be the temperature. For
both changes to be equal, the temperature should just rise/drop
in a given amount depending on v. As temp is proportional to mean KE,
I do not expect that.

 Miguel A. Santos