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x ' = x vt
x = x'+vt '
y' = y
y = y'
t ' = t
t = t '
x' =
t' =
x vt
1 v / c
y' = y
z' = z
t vx / c 2
2
1 v2 / c2
x =
and
t =
x'+v' t '
1 v2 / c2
y = y'
.
z = z'
t '+v' x' / c 2
1 v2 / c2
Proof of Lorentz transformation: Suppose that a flare is set off at a common origin
of S and S at t=t=0, and the observers in each system proceed to measure the speed
light c at x and x, respectively. We have x=ct and x=ct.
x' = k ( x vt )
x = k ( x'+ vt ' )
y' = y
y = y'
Let
and
x=k[k(x-vt)+vt]=k2(x-vt)+kvt
z' = z
z = z'
t ' = f (t , x, v)
t = f 1 (t ' , x' , v' )
(1 k 2 ) x
(1 k 2 ) x
1 v / c
x=k(x-vt)=ct=c[kt+
] x=ct[
]=ct
kv
kv
1 + (1 1 / k 2 )c / v
1
1 v / c
=1 k=
. Lorentz transformation holds.
2
1 + (1 1 / k )c / v
1 v2 / c2
t=kt+
3
c, t=0.5/v=1.9210-9sec
2
Time dilation: A clock is at xin S. When an observer in S find the time is t1, after a
time interval t0, and the time is up to t2 (all in S). The observer in S find the time
t0
t 2 't1 '
interval is t=t2-t1=
=
>t0. A stationary clock measure a
2
2
2
2
1 v / c
1 v / c
longer time interval between events occurring in a moving frame of reference than a
clock does in the moving frame.
Eg. (Twin paradox) A woman leaves the earth in a spacecraft that makes a round
trip to a star, 4 light-year distant, at a speed of 0.9c. How many years younger is
she upon her return than his twin sister who remained behind?
(Sol.) 24c/0.9c-24c( 1 v 2 / c 2 )/0.9c=5.01years
(a) A light-pulse clock at rest as seen by observer in S, the time interval t0 is the light
pulse travel between mirrors. Therefore we have t0=2L0/c.
(b) A light-pulse clock in S as seen by observer in S, and hence we have
t0
(ct/2)2= L02+(vt/2) 2, L0=ct0/2 t=
1 v2 / c2
Simultaneity: Consider that a pair of time-bombs explodes at the same time t0 at x1
and x2 in S, respectively. But in S, t1=
t2-t1=
v( x1 x 2 ) / c 2
in S frame.
1 v2 / c2
t 0 vx1 / c 2
1 v2 / c2
, t2=
t 0 vx 2 / c 2
1 v2 / c2
vdz '
dx'+vdt '
c 2 , we have
dx=
, dy=dy, dz=dz, dt=
1 v2 / c2
1 v2 / c2
dt '+
'
V
v
V v
+
dx dx + vdt '
Vx ' = x
=
= x
V x =
vdx'
vV '
vV
dt
dt '+ 2
1 + 2x
1 2x
c
c
c
2
2
Vy ' 1 v / c
Vy 1 v 2 / c 2
and V y ' =
.
Vy =
vV x '
vV x
1+ 2
1 2
c
c
2
2
V ' 1 v / c
V 1 v2 / c2
V z ' = z
Vz = z
vV '
vV
1 + 2x
1 2x
c
c
Eg. Spacecraft A has a velocity with respect to the earth of 0.9c. If spacecraft B is
to pass spacecraft A at a relative velocity 0.5c, what velocity must spacecraft B
have with respect to the earth?
(Sol.) Vx=
V x '+ v
0.5c + 0.9c
=0.9655c
=
'
0.5c 0.9c
vVx
1+
1+ 2
c2
c
V x 'v
cv
=c
=
'
cv
vVx
1 2
1 2
c
c
Suppose A and B collide at y=0.5Y, and VA=VB. The round-trip time T0 for A
measured in S is T0=Y/VA, which is identical T0=Y/VB in S.
mBY
mBY
=
mAVA=mBVB=mBY/T=
mA=mB 1 v 2 / c 2 .
Y
1
T0
2
2
1 v 2 / c 2 VA 1 v / c
Let mA=m0, mB=m m=
Momentum: p=mv=
m0
1 v2 / c2
m0 v
1 v2 / c2
Force: F=dp/dt=mdv/dt+vdm/dt
s
s d ( mv )
v
v
m0 v
Kinetic energy: T= Fds =
ds = vd (mv) = vd (
)
0
0
0
0
2
2
dt
1 v / c
=
m0 v 2
1 v2 / c2
vdv
1 v / c
-m0
m0 v 2
1 v2 / c2
+m0c2( 1 v 2 / c 2
v
0
)=mc2-m0c2.
Eg. An electron has a kinetic energy of 0.1MeV. Find its velocity according to
classical and relativistic mechanics.
(Sol.) Classical mechanics:
0.1MeV=0.11061.60210-19=1.60210-14J=9.10910-31v2/2 v=1.87108m/sec
Relativistic mechanics:
T=1.60210-14=mc2-m0c2=9.10910-31c2[
1
1 v / c
2
-1] =1.64108m/sec
1+ v / w
), where w is the velocity of wave, v is the
1V / w
1+ v / w
)=2615.3Hz
1V / w
1 v2 / c2
), where is the angle between the
1 v cos / c
moving direction of the light source and the line from the source to an observer. And v
is the relative velocity of the source (v>0 if the source and the observer approaching
each other; v<0 if they move away from each other).
Doppler effect in relativity: f=f0(
1+ v / c
1 v / c
1+ v / c
=1.234103pulse/sec
1 v / c
Eg. (Red shift) A distant galaxy in the constellation Hydra is receding from the
earth at 6.12107m/sec. By how much is a green spectral line of wavelength
500nm emitted by this galaxy shifted toward the red end of the spectrum?
(Sol.) v=-6.12107, 0=500, f=f0
1+ v / c
1 v / c
=0
=615nm
1 v / c
1+ v / c
Starlight passing near the sun is deflected by suns strong gravitational field: This
phenomenon has been proved by observing and measuring the precession of the
perihelion of Mercurys orbit.