As you will see environmental objects at movement with speed close to speed of light
The special theory of relativity describes space, time and motion. Relativistic effects become noticeable when motion occurs at nearly the speed of light. Since the speed of light is in excess of a billion kilometers per hour, such motion is far beyond our everyday experience. With fast computers, however, the experience of motion at nearly the speed of light can be simulated.
Here we present a simulation using a detailed three-dimensional model of the old city center of Tubingen. In the simulation we reduce the speed of light in “virtual Tubingen” to 30 kilometers per hour: We can then ride a bike through the city at nearly the speed of light. Our starting position is in the alley “Marktgasse” off the market place. The picture to the left shows what we see while standing beside the pub “Alte Kunst” and looking in the direction of the city museum that is visible at the end of the road.
We then mount the bike and make several round trips through the city centre. On every round we drive past our point of departure in the “Marktgasse”, every time with a higher velocity, taking a snapshot whenever we are passing the exact spot where the picture shown above was taken. The camera is always looking ahead in the direction of motion. The next three images show these snapshots. The higher our velocity the farther away the city museum appears to be.
Whenever we take a snapshot, the pub “Alte Kunst” is just next to us on the right hand side. In the pictures, however, we see it in front of us. When driving at 80% of the speed of light, we can see the house next to the pub with its archway. This house was outside our field of view when we were standing still at the same location.
At 95% of the speed of light we also see the window and the door next to the archway …
… and at 99% of the speed of light yet another house. The “Alte Kunst” is now barely visible in the distance. Also, at increasing velocity we see the houses noticeably distorted.
All four snapshots have been taken at the exact same position. Light rays are reaching the camera at this position; they are the same light rays, regardless of whether the camera is moving or not. So, why don’t the snapshots all show the same image?
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