Look at these situations as simply a beam of light as viewed from two
different frames of reference. The rest frame of the source only affects
some irrelevant details - the source might just as well be anchored in the
elevator.
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
trebor@winbeam.com http://www.winbeam.com/~trebor/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Savinainen Antti" <antti.savinainen@kuopio.fi>
To: <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:46 AM
Subject: [Phys-l] Relativistic elevator
Hi,
there are three figures regarding a relativistic elevator & the equivalence
principle in Strobel's Astronomy Notes:
"If your elevator is moving at a constant velocity upward relative
to the person outside, you will see the beam of light travel in a
straight-line path angled downward. The person outside still sees
the beam travelling in a horizontal direction."
This would mean, of course, that using the abovementioned arrangement the
observer inside the elevator could deduce that he is moving upwards at
constant velocity w.r.t. to the source of the light beam. Is this consistent
with SR? If it is then the situation must be equivalent to "looking
outside".
However, the situation in the third figure would not allow the elevator
observer to resolve whether he/she is in a gravitational field or
accelerating upwards as implied by the equivalence principle.
This is also what Strobel states.
Regards,
Antti
Antti Savinainen, Ph.D., B.Ed.
Senior Lecturer in Physics and Mathematics
Kuopio Lyseo High School
Finland
E-mail: <antti.savinainen@kuopio.fi>
Website: <http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/savant/>
--
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