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A reference frame is a particular coordinate system chosen to represent physical entities. The notion is most often used in special and general relativity to denote particular coordinates chosen on the spacetime manifold.

11 votes
3 answers
2k views

Understanding the CMB background as a reference frame

We say the Earth is in relative motion with respect to the cosmic microwave background (CMB), causing anisotropies in the CMB spectrum. I have four very simple questions about this. How is it possib …
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4 votes
1 answer
427 views

How does one find the wavefunction of a particle in its rest frame?

In classical mechanics, the orbital angular momentum of a particle is defined as $\textbf{L}=\textbf{r}\times\textbf{p}$. This is zero in the rest frame of the particle where $\textbf{p}=0$. Quantum …
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4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Noether's theorem and Invariance of Lagrangian under translation

Consider a coordinate system in which the point A has coordinate $z_0$ and point B has ccordinate $z$ where there is a particle of mass $m$. Let there be a constant gravitational field of Earth. The L …
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2 votes
2 answers
607 views

Meaning of general coordinate invariance: distinguishing inertial and non-inertial observers

Laws of physics cannot distinguish one inertial frame from another which is equivalent to the statement of Poincaré invariance. What is the meaning of general coordinate invariance? General coordina …
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2 votes
Accepted

Why is the centripetal net force always to the center?

$\bullet$ Note that the direction of the change in the velocity $\Delta\textbf{v}$ is towards the center. Therefore, the acceleration must be towards the center and hence also the force. Your diagram …
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1 vote

Why the clock at rest runs faster, while another clock slows when moving?

The situation is completely symmetric. Let the velocity of a frame A w.r.t another frame B is $\textbf{v}$. then from the perspective of A, the frame frame B has a relative velocity $-\textbf{v}$. Fro …
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1 vote
1 answer
206 views

Which time is there in the FRW metric?

The FRW metric is given by $$ds^2=dt^2-a^2(t)\Big[\frac{dr^2}{1-kr^2}+r^2(d\theta)^2+(r\sin\theta)^2(d\phi)^2\Big].$$ There is a time $t$ sitting in this metric. In which frame is this time measured?
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