Thanks for the quick response John! But you speak only of projections, etc
in a graphical representation of the Lorentz transformation. Please address
the physical reality. What is it in the physical reality that is not real,
and only appearance.
Is it not *real* that if two photon clocks are synchronized while both are
at rest, when they are set in relative motion their ticks ( as viewed from
either frame) will no longer be simultaneous and that the moving clock will
*really* run slower. What is not real in this *physical* situation?
If c were a much smaller number, these effects would be commonplace and
accepted as real, prima facie. Presently our Galilean experiences prejudice
us toward expecting and seeking observer independent absolutes.
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em) http://www.winbeam.com/~trebor/
trebor@winbeam.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Denker" <jsd@AV8N.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: "moving clock runs slower" (yes)
| Bob Sciamanda wrote:
| > Consider the simple "bouncing photon" clock. In its proper frame, a
photon
| > bounces back and forth, in one dimension, between two parallel mirrors -
| > registering one tick per round trip. As viewed from a moving frame this
| > photon travels a longer, "triangular" path through space. Since the
photon
| > speed is numerically the same (c) as measured in both frames, the clock
must
| > tick at a slower rate when viewed from the second frame (when compared
to an
| > identical clock at rest in the second frame).
|
| I would say that the _projection_ of the clock's tick-events
| onto the laboratory's time-axis is slow, i.e. the _projected_
| tick-marks are farther apart.
|
| > What is it about this effect that is not real, and only an appearance
|
| The projection is quite nontrivial.
|
| It is profoundly analogous to viewing a ruler nearly end-on.
|
| > - must
| > we say that the invariance of vacuum light speed is not real, and only
an
| > appearance?
|
| No, "c" is the same in all frames. All the projection operators you
| can make from the Lorentz group leave "c" unchanged. Under a Lorentz
| transformation, the x axis tilts up just as much as the t axis tilts
| over, so that the diagonal remains unchanged. Draw the diagram. Or
| look at mine:
| http://www.av8n.com/physics/twins.htm#fig-twins-joe
| http://www.av8n.com/physics/twins.htm#fig-twins-out
| http://www.av8n.com/physics/twins.htm#fig-twins-in
|
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