"Spaceman" wrote in message
. ..

"Greg Neill" wrote in message
. ..
| Actually, upon further reflection I take this
| back. The observer stationary in the frame of
| the ground will see the top of the wheel moving
| forward more quickly than the center, which
| in turn will be moving more quickly than the
| bottom which is instantaneously at rest where
| it touches the ground. So the shape will be
| more complex than a simple ellipse. More of
| an ovoid I'd guess.

You guess wrong still,
The wheel can do no such thing from speed alone.
please check my can rolling in the train thread.
(It causes a real problem with realtive motion of the can)

The only problems are in your head.

Nevermind, someone's already done the math for the
relativistic wheel and made a graphic:

http://www.spacetimetravel.org/

Check out the rolling wheels videos.



| Relativistic velocity addition and length
| contraction always applies, so it's possible to
| work out the shape (and hence the circumference).
| I'll have to give it a go.

Forget this one just for a while,
and take on the can rolling on the train car thread.
That one will make your brain smoke!
and maybe even break some of the brainwashing
if you actually think about it.

James, you're just becoming more and more pitiful.
Keep up the good work.