Posted on 12/25/2008 7:55:05 PM PST by Soliton
No, your mass approaches infinity as your velocity approaches the speed of light. In Newtons equations your mass stays constant as you accelerate, Newton is incorrect. Even at non relativistic speeds your mass increases as you accelerate, we just may not be able to measure it : )
But that wasn't precisely what you were stating was it? I think you were putting someone in a box (no other references) and stating for that observer Newton physics would work fine. I already agreed that would be correct. It only gets interesting when you get other objects in your frame of reference : )
Newtons laws and Einsteins predictions do not give the same result when gravitational fields are much larger than those on earth. Einsteins theory of General Relativity is the most accurate gravitational theory we have because it works in all reference frames.
Correct. Newton was almost right and since his equations are a lot easier we use them.
The steady state example actually illustrates Einsteins idea in SR that the laws of physics are the same in all non-accelerating reference frames. It so happens that Newtonian mechanics is usually sufficient in these reference frames.
What you really mean to say is at non relativistic speeds and/or large Gravity fields. You do know that you are being accelerated right now, don't you?
Are you even able to make a response without purposely insulting someone with your condescension?
Ok well I wasn't including relativity in this, but yes if you are measuring objects moving relativistically then you will of course have the strange increases in mass, etc My intent in the explanation was to show that Newton's laws hold INSIDE, lets say, an airplane which is accelerating (not relativistically). The motion of objects in this frame abides by Newton's laws, but with additional fictitious forces.
The steady state example actually illustrates Einsteins idea in SR that the laws of physics are the same in all non-accelerating reference frames. It so happens that Newtonian mechanics is usually sufficient in these reference frames. What you really mean to say is at non relativistic speeds and/or large Gravity fields. You do know that you are being accelerated right now, don't you?
I think we are looking at this from two different angles. The postulate of special relativity says that there is no experiment you can perform to indicate that you are moving if you are inside a constant velocity reference frame.
The earth is rotationally accelerating, which I mentioned earlier (centripitally accelerating as well). Newton's laws still apply on earth, you just have to include the fictitious forces and apply Newton's laws.
MHGinTN has requested that I don’t post to him. I have honored that request but on several occasions he has posted and insultingly referred to me.
MHGinTN please do not post to me or refer to me in other posts. You can’t post to me and not allow me to post back.
LOL
You're not in a position to know that, only to allege it.
Even at non relativistic speeds, accelerating bodies increase in mass, but I agree with you, the difference is negligible.
I think we are looking at this from two different angles. The postulate of special relativity says that there is no experiment you can perform to indicate that you are moving if you are inside a constant velocity reference frame.
Your use of the 'constant velocity' term seems wrong to me. I believe his example was an elevator in free fall that was accelerating because of the Gravitational field, an accelerating body is not in a 'constant velocity' situation. In particular Einstein stated that you couldn't tell the difference from the inside of a box sitting on the earth or a box in space accelerating at 32 feet per second squared.
Essentially what Einstein was saying was that you are accelerating at 32 feet per second squared as you are reading this post.
The elevator in free fall is General Relativity.
The airplane moving at constant “uniform motion” is Special Relativity.
Both examples are correct.
What exactly are we disagreeing on?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.