Since time slows down and length contracts, when we travel almost at speed of light, if the speed of light (or EM waves) remains same and the wavelength of light remains same, do we measure the wavelength more than it actually is?

Raiden Barr

Raiden Barr

Answered question

2022-10-22

Since time slows down and length contracts, when we travel almost at speed of light, if the speed of light (or EM waves) remains same and the wavelength of light remains same, do we measure the wavelength more than it actually is?

Answer & Explanation

spornya1

spornya1

Beginner2022-10-23Added 18 answers

Yes, though it isn't quite as you think.
You've probably heard of the Doppler effect. Even without the help of relativity we can see ultraviolet light if the source is moving away from us fast enough because the Doppler effect reduces the frequency of the light. We still get this effect in special relativity and it's called the relativistic Doppler effect.
If the source of the ultraviolet light is moving directly towards us then the frequency of the light is increased not decreased, so we can't see it. However if the source is moving towards us but not directly towards us then how the light is red/blue shifted depends on how fast the source is moving and how far we are from the source's line of travel. The article I linked above gives some details though I'm afraid calculating this is quite involved.

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