Re: [Phys-l] Relativistic elevator

[Herbert Schulz <herbs@wideopenwest.com>]

On Mar 25, 2008, at 12:39 PM, John Denker wrote:
> On 03/25/2008 08:46 AM, Savinainen Antti wrote:
>
> > there are three figures regarding a relativistic elevator & the
> > equivalence principle in Strobel's Astronomy Notes:
> >
> > <http://www.astronomynotes.com/relativity/s3.htm> (Scroll down)
> >
> > Strobel explains the middle figure thus:
> >
> > "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?
>
> Sure.


Howdy,

No! It just appears that the source of the light is at a different  
angular position in the sky. You can't tell who is ``right.'' Called  
the aberration of starlight.

Good Luck,

Herb Schulz
(herbs@wideopenwest.com)