1

Isn't it impossible to estimate the velocity of framework through relativistic velocity addition formula when the event moves at speed of the light? $$u=\frac{v-v'}{1-vv'/c^2}$$

if $v=v'=c$ $u=\frac{0}{0}$ undefined,

Note that the $u$ denotes velocity of frame, $v$ denotes velocity of event and $v'$ denotes velocity of event from frame viewpoint.

(because when the event moves at speed of the light result of relativistic velocity addition formula is equal to zero devided by zero which is undefined and indeterminate)

Achmed
  • 1,139
  • 1
    That should be $u=(v+v')/(1+vv'/c^2)$. – lemon Sep 20 '14 at 10:29
  • 1
  • 1
    Not at all. The frame that moves at the speed of light is always the frame that moves at the speed of light. That's actually the main assumption of special relativity. The expression above isn't undefined, either. Use L'Hospital's rule. – CuriousOne Sep 20 '14 at 11:05
  • 1
    To see a acceptable limit, begin by choose one of the velocities (say $v$) to be $c$, then $u=c$ for all $v' < c$. Now, you may take the limit $v'=c$ – Trimok Sep 20 '14 at 11:44
  • 1
    @Achmed: Events don't move. Objects move. –  Sep 20 '14 at 13:40
  • 1
    @CuriousOne: SR doesn't allow frames that move at the speed of light. –  Sep 20 '14 at 13:40
  • @Crowel here, event is motion of an object or elementary particles – Achmed Sep 20 '14 at 14:36
  • @BenCrowell: L'Hospital's rule doesn't require such a frame, it only requires an approximation of such a frame. One can, of course, argue that photons are in such a (degenerate) frame, and since they are the most abundant particles in the universe, I find it curious that we don't like to talk about it that way. After all, what is it, mathematically? A fixpoint of a map, isn't it? Why should it be forbidden to talk about it the same way as we talk about all other points of the map? – CuriousOne Sep 20 '14 at 14:55
  • 2
    @Achmed - in physics, when you get into nonsensical math, always ask yourself what is the physical situation you are attempting to describe. Here it seems to be: "while traveling on a train passing a station, if I send a photon in the direction of travel, what would its speed be as seen from the perspective of a photon sent in the same direction from the platform?" The correct answer is that photons lack perspective... – Johannes Sep 20 '14 at 15:00

0 Answers0