Uniform acceleration in relativity, #3/3

This is an attempt to describe acceleration (particularly uniform acceleration) in Einsteins relativity. Only special relativity will be used, but some phenomena associated with general relativity will be found. Check
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/
for a basic intro to relativity. This is also partially a response to mooeypoo's Astronomy Simplified (#1): Basics of Time and Distance, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toTm9BrvHeo
, so check that out!

In the third episode, I study the accelerated system from the inside.

Errata: The first transition in slide 15 should say dt=dtau/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2), as for the usual time dilation. Actually slide 15 was not needed at all.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• relativity
• uniform
• acceleration
• accelerating
• astronomy
• science
• lecture
• event
• horizon

[deathpass422]

Okay, i am a high school student and i understand most of the terminology described in the theories of relativity as well as the many ideals and various parts involved. However, I'm having a though time learning to understand the many equations. This video helped (I think) but to me, it is very difficult due to the fact that i have never taken a calculus class nor ever taught differential equations...any suggestions as to how to learn to get started learning the 'ligo' of relativity?

[trondreitan]

Thanks for the message! As to calculus, the lingo of relativity (and Newtonian physics also), I guess there's no way to avoid picking up a book on calculus. Which is a shame, because such books are usually bone dry and pretty heavy, both in terms of content and gravitational pull... :)

Perhaps it is possible to get hold of a calculus intro book which combines the theory with example from physics? Hopefully some other viewers watching this can give a tip.

[crawhip2]

I am well aware of the fact that the original time dilation equation can only be applied to inertial frames. In fact time dilation for inertial frame has been proven with a light clock experiment, but how has time dilation been proven for accelerating frames, I've always wanted to know

[crawhip2]

I just wamted to know if there are two separate types of transformation equations when dealing with (accelerated frames) and one for (rotating frames). both accel. frames and rotating framess are categorized under non-inertial fames etc...

[trondreitan]

I'm looking forward to it!

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

I'm working on a video which will attempt to explain SR using only geometry (no equations!). I guess I'll have to use the conventional measurements of "time dilation" and "length contraction" without fully understanding why they work (like everyone else does).

Thanks for the discussion.

[trondreitan]

Hope this cleared things up. Still, it might be fun to make a video about the subject someday, though I probably will not do so in the immediate future.

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

Yes, exactly !

As you indicated in your first reply, there is an asymmetry entering the situation somehow. My difficulty is in seeing where the asymmetry comes from. My only thought so far is, it might be related to the handedness of the co-ordinate systems.

[trondreitan]

In measuring time intervals, the time difference between two events are found, if the events are found at the same location or not. When measuring length, the difference in position at a given time local to any inertial system is found. These two definitions differ in how time and length measurements are done, even if the Lorentz transformations themselves are symmetric in time and space.