Würzburg 2018 – scientific programme

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GR: Fachverband Gravitation und Relativitätstheorie

GR 7: Didactical aspects of relativity

GR 7.2: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 17:10–17:50, NW-Bau - HS3

Visualizing relativistic effects in a non-relativistic model — •Thomas Filk — Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 3, 79104 Freiburg

A chain of harmonically coupled pendula in a gravitational field is a classical Newtonian system. However, in a continuum limit, where the discreteness of the chain can be neglected, the equations of motion of this system become Lorentz invariant. Therefore, all non-trivial solutions of this system (solitons, breathers) behave like relativistic objects: there is a maximal speed of propagation and the solutions show Lorentz contraction and time-dilation when in motion (with the proper Lorentz factor and the speed of light replaced by the speed of wave propagation along the chain). Intrinsically, i.e. when the ``clocks" and ``rulers" of the system are used, this becomes a Lorentz invariant relativistic system. Extrinsically, i.e. for an external observer, it remains to be Newtonian.

This model cannot only be used to demonstrate relativistic effects in the classroom, but it also shows nicely how Einstein's interpretation of relativity comes about when the measuring devices are considered as part of the system. And it emphasizes the usefullnes of changing perspectives.