Imagine a high speed rocket, traveling past a star. In the rocket's reference frame, the star's length is contracted. This is a lot a mass in a thin line, so it the rocket's reference frame, could it become a black hole? If not, what am I missing?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
2
-
1$\begingroup$ possible duplicate of Can a black hole form due to Lorentz contraction? $\endgroup$– mpvCommented Apr 6, 2015 at 20:07
-
3$\begingroup$ As pointed out below, the question as posed isn't really sensible in the framework of special relativity. I suggest you ask a question (by editing this one) that will make mathematical sense, but still replicate your question: what about an observer traveling at $.9999.. c$? You can still have the arbitrarily large Lorentz contraction that interests you without literally using a lightspeed frame. $\endgroup$– zeldredgeCommented Apr 6, 2015 at 20:08
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
1
The point of view of a photon is not really a valid reference frame. This can be seen by asking yourself this question: if the speed of light is constant in all reference frames (a basic postulate of special relativity), then does a photon see itself traveling at the speed of light? As can be seen, this is utterly nonsensical.
answered Apr 6, 2015 at 20:06