- #1
Hiero
- 322
- 68
If a single point charge is moving, then the component of the electric field normal to the motion is larger (by the gamma factor) than if the charge were stationary.
Now consider an infinite line of charges (with a small separation, the same between each charge). If the whole line is moving along, then by length contraction the linear density (and hence electric field) is increased by gamma. But by the first paragraph, each individual charge should have its field increased by gamma. By this reasoning we should expect the field to be larger by gamma squared, as compared to the frame which sees the line stationary.
On the one hand I know this is silly, because length contraction of a line of charges could be how you derive the first paragraph in the first place. On the other hand though this really bothers me; why should the field of a single charge be different if it's alone or in a line?
Now consider an infinite line of charges (with a small separation, the same between each charge). If the whole line is moving along, then by length contraction the linear density (and hence electric field) is increased by gamma. But by the first paragraph, each individual charge should have its field increased by gamma. By this reasoning we should expect the field to be larger by gamma squared, as compared to the frame which sees the line stationary.
On the one hand I know this is silly, because length contraction of a line of charges could be how you derive the first paragraph in the first place. On the other hand though this really bothers me; why should the field of a single charge be different if it's alone or in a line?