Special relativity barn pole thought experiment

In summary, the shape of the cookies produced from the cookie dough on a conveyor belt moving at speed v will be circular in the lab frame due to the analogous motion of the cookies and the stamp. In the conveyor belt frame, it is more difficult to determine the shape because of the difference between being squashed and stretched in the direction of the belt. This thought experiment is similar to the barn pole thought experiment, although it may be more challenging to visualize relativistic cookies compared to poles.
  • #1
lei123
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Homework Statement


cookie dough lies on a conveyor belt which moves at speed v. A circular stamp stamps out cookies as the dough rushes by beneath it. When you buy these cookies in a store, what shape are they? That is, re they squashed in the direction of the belt, stretched in that direction, or circular? You don't have to be quantitative, but you must explain your (qualitative) reasoning in both the lab frame and the conveyor belt frame.



Homework Equations


n/A


The Attempt at a Solution


in the lab frame, the cookies will come out circular because the motion of the cookies are analogous to the motion of the conveyor belt and from that perspective the stamp is very much a circle.
in the conveyor belt frame, I'm much more lost. What's the difference between being squashed and being stretched in the direction of the conveyor belt?
 
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  • #2
It sounds to me that this thought experiment is very similar to the barn pole thought experiment, although it seems a bit harder to picture relativistic cookies than relativistic poles :).
 

Related to Special relativity barn pole thought experiment

1. What is the "Special relativity barn pole thought experiment"?

The "Special relativity barn pole thought experiment" is a theoretical experiment used to explain the concepts of length contraction and time dilation in special relativity. It involves a barn and a pole moving at high speeds relative to each other.

2. How does the barn pole thought experiment illustrate length contraction?

In the barn pole thought experiment, a pole is moving at high speeds through a barn. According to special relativity, the length of an object appears shorter when it is moving at high speeds relative to an observer. This is known as length contraction, and the experiment visually demonstrates this concept as the pole appears shorter to an observer inside the barn than to an observer outside the barn.

3. What is the significance of the barn pole thought experiment in special relativity?

The barn pole thought experiment is significant because it helps to explain the relationship between time and space in special relativity. It shows how time and length are relative to the observer's frame of reference and how they can appear differently at high speeds. This experiment also supports the theory of special relativity and its predictions.

4. Does the barn pole thought experiment have any real-world applications?

While the barn pole thought experiment is a theoretical concept, it has real-world applications in fields such as particle physics and astrophysics. Understanding the principles of special relativity is crucial in these fields to accurately predict and measure the behavior of particles and objects moving at high speeds.

5. Are there any limitations to the barn pole thought experiment?

Yes, there are some limitations to the barn pole thought experiment. It assumes that the barn and pole are traveling at constant speeds and in a straight line, which may not always be the case in real-world scenarios. Additionally, the experiment does not take into account the effects of gravity, which can also impact the measurements of time and length in special relativity.

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