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Relativity - Set I: Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

1. The document discusses inertial and non-inertial frames of reference, and introduces Galilean transformations which relate space and time coordinates between two frames in uniform relative motion. 2. It describes how the Galilean transformations do not account for the constant speed of light, and introduces Lorentz transformations which relate coordinates between frames in relative motion without violating the constant speed of light. 3. Lorentz transformations involve both space and time coordinates and introduce time dilation and length contraction effects between frames in relative motion.

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Arun Pillai
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74 views7 pages

Relativity - Set I: Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

1. The document discusses inertial and non-inertial frames of reference, and introduces Galilean transformations which relate space and time coordinates between two frames in uniform relative motion. 2. It describes how the Galilean transformations do not account for the constant speed of light, and introduces Lorentz transformations which relate coordinates between frames in relative motion without violating the constant speed of light. 3. Lorentz transformations involve both space and time coordinates and introduce time dilation and length contraction effects between frames in relative motion.

Uploaded by

Arun Pillai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

CHAPTER 4
RELATIVITY - Set I
SYLLABUS:- Special theory of Relativity: Inertial and Non-inertial Frames of reference,
Galilean transformations , Lorentz transformations (space – time coordinates), Time Dilation,
Length Contraction and Mass-Energy relation.

INTRODUCTION
To describe the motion of an object, we need a coordinate system. The coordinate system is
called as a frame of reference.We normally have x,yand z axis and time t as a reference. We
have 2 reference frames.i.e Inertial Frame of reference and Non-Inertial frame of reference.
INERTIAL FRAME OF REFERENCE (UNACCELERATED)
A frame is said to an inertial frame of reference when a body in this frame obey Newtonian
mechanics. In an inertial frame all bodies continues in a state of rest of uniform motion unless
acted upon by a external unbalanced force. .
NON- INERTIAL FRAME OF REFERENCE (ACCELERATED)
A frame is said to be an non-inertial frame of reference when it is accelerated in the
presence or absence of a force. The bodies do not obey Newtonian mechanics in a Non-
Inertial frame.

GALILEAN TRANSFORMATION

Let S and S’ be two frames of reference, such that S’ is moving along the x- axis with a
constant velocity ‘v’. The origin O and O’ coincides when S’ is at rest. The time at
coincidence of orgin is t=0

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in


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Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

Consider an event P occurring at a distance x from S frame and x’ from the S’ frame. The
time of event will be same for both the frames i.e t=t’
These equations are called Galilean transformation.

x’ = x-vt
y’= y
z’= z
t’ = t

INVERSE GALILEAN TRANSFORMATION :- If the frame is moving in the negative


direction with a velocity (-v) in the -x direction, the equations will be

x’ = x + vt
y’= y
z’= z
t’ = t

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in


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Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel
GALILEAN VELOCITY TRANSFORMATIONS
Consider a particle ‘M’ moving with a velocity u in the S frame and u’ in the S’ frame. The
components of u are (ux,uy,uz) and components of u’ are (ux’, uy’, uz’) respectively.
Differentiating Galilean equations above

dx’= dx-v.dt
dy’= dy
dz’=dz

Dividing the above terms with dt.


𝑑𝑥′ 𝑑𝑥
= -v
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦′ 𝑑𝑦
=
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑧′ 𝑑𝑧
=
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

The above equations become


ux’ = ux -v
uy’= uy
uz’= uz

GALILEAN ACCELERATION TRANSFORMATIONS


If a and a’ are the acceleration of the particles in S and S’ frame. We differentiate velocity
over time

𝑑𝑢𝑥′ 𝑑𝑢𝑥 𝑑
= - v ax’ =ax – 0 ax’=ax
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑢𝑦′ 𝑑𝑢𝑦
= ay’ =ay
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑢𝑧′ 𝑑𝑢𝑧
= az’ = az
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

The Galilean transformation for accelerations are


ax’ = ax ay’= ay az’= az

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in


4
Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

OUR CONCLUSIONS FROM ABOVE


• A particle having an acceleration (a) in the S frame shall have the same acceleration
(a’) in the S’ frame of reference.
• Equation of Force (F= m .a) is valid in the S and S’ frame. Newtons laws are invariant
in Galilean Transformation.
• Velocity of a particle in the S frame u=√ ( 𝑢𝑥 2 + 𝑢𝑦 2 + 𝑢𝑧 2 ) and the velocity of
the same particle in the S’ frame u’=√ ( 𝑢𝑥′2 + 𝑢𝑦 ′2 + 𝑢𝑧′2 )
• The velocity of light is not equal in the S and S’ frame , hence there is a need to
redefine Galilean transformations’ special theory of relativity

POSTULATES OF SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY


• The laws of physics take the same form in all inertial frames of reference.
• As measured in any inertial frame of reference, light is always propagated in empty
space with a definite velocity c that is independent of the state of motion of the emitting
body. Or: the speed of light in free space has the same value c in all inertial frames of
reference.
The two-postulate basis for special relativity is the one historically used by Einstein, and
it remains the starting point today.

LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION

Consider two coordinate systems S (x; y; z; t) and S’ (x’ y’, z’; t’) that coincide
at
t = t’= 0. The frame S is stationary and S’ is moving along the x axis with a
velocity ‘v’

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in


5
Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

Lets say at time t = t’ = 0, a light pulse is produced at x = x’ = 0; y = y’ = 0; z = z’ = 0. The


light pulse will travel the same distance in both frames of reference.
If ‘c’ is the velocity of light, then the distance covered shall be (c. t) i.e (velocity X time)
x2 + y2 +z 2 = (ct)2 - (1)
x’2 + y’2 +z’ 2 = (ct’)2 -
(2)

The Galilean transformations are x’ = x-vt , y’= y , z’= z and t’ = t


Substituting the above Galilean transformation in Eqn (2)

(x- vt ) 2 + y2 +z 2 = (ct)2

x2 + y2 +z 2 - 2xvt +v2t2 = c2t2

The Galilean transformation does not stand true . The additional terms above involve
both space and time.
We can avoid an unwanted term such as (- 2xvt +v2t2 ) above is to assume that t’ is a
function of both x and t.

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in


6
Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in


7
Pillai College of Engineering, New Panvel

Notes by Prof. Arun Shridharan Pillai +91 981911 0096 / profarun@mes.ac.in

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