Re: General Theory of Relativity
- From: Glenn Knapp <kahuna@VCN.COM>
- Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 20:51:26 -0700
At 01:45 PM 12/11/98 -0500, kevin sonntag wrote:
>I have a question if anyone has ideas on how to present to
introductory
>level students , the concept of when two objects are
approaching each
>other close to the speed of light that their combined speed
between them
>cannot be greater than the speed of light. I have tried to relay
the
>concept to my students, but I am not reaching them.
>Any help would be great
>
>Kevin Sonntag
>KHS
Kev,
Is this an isolated question, where the student has seen something
on TV or the movies and asked you how the thing could be, or is this a
question in response to a lesson you are teaching on special
relativity?
Usually, one covers time dilation and length contraction in a high
school course. After that has been trotted out, one can look at
relative velocities between two moving reference frames. The
equation for that was provided by the good Prof Marlow in his
response. Just about any text that covers special relativity will
probably deal with this particular situation.
I find that my students are fascinated by relativity and have a heck
of a good time dealing with its eccentricities.
Good luck.
Glenn
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