Introduction to the

Special Theory of
Relativity
Jacque Lynn F. Gabayno, Ph.D
Lecture Notes
Department of Physics, Mapua Institute of
Technology, Intramuros Manila

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 Topics Covered
Length contraction
Time dilation
Exercises
Lorentz transformation (Optional)
Velocity transformation (Optional)
Equivalence of mass and energy (Optional)
Spacetime diagram or Minkowski world lines
(Optional)

Supplementary readings: J D Cresser, THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY, McQuarie University, Sydney, Australia (2003)2
 Principles of special relativity
Formulated by A. Einstein (in 1905) - by toying on the
implications of the experimental results of light velocity
measurement by Michelson and Morley. (Inspired indirectly by
Maxwells equations)

Based upon two postulates:

The LAWS OF PHYSICS are the same for all
reference frames
The SPEED OF LIGHT, c, is the same in all
reference frames

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 Inertial (Reference Frame)
Inertial reference frame - system of coordinates (x,y,z,t) in which
an observer is non-accelerating. v

Examples of situations:
A train is moving w.r.t. a train station
A bench/chair is anchored on the train.
A coin purse is falling from the chair.

Reference Frames Observer/s

Train station A passenger standing/sitting at the station
Bench/chair A passenger sitting on the bench inside the train
Coin purse A coin inside the purse

Only the passengers at the station and inside the train are in an inertial frame
(i.e. not accelerating). The coin purse is not because of -g.
Supplementary readings: G Sciolla, MIT OCW 4
 Is time the same on all reference frames?
Consider:
Observer 1: standing inside the train
Observer 2: At the station
v
h

Event: Observer 1 flashes a light pulse into a sensor on the trains

ceiling.

Using two synchronized clocks, one inside the train, and one on the
station, both observers measure the time from when the light pulse
was emitted until it reaches the sensor.

How will the time measurement differ between the two observers?

Supplementary readings: G Sciolla, MIT OCW) 5

 Time in different reference frames
Reference frame: Train v
As measured by Observer 1:
h h1 h2
(Eqn.1) h1 = c"t1 # "t1 = 1
c

Reference frame: Station

As measured by Observer 2:
! 2
h2 h12 + (v"t 2 )
(Eqn.2) h2 = c"t 2 # "t 2 = =
c c
2 2
Then, 2 h12 + (v"t 2 ) h12 (v"t 2 )
( "t 2 ) = 2
= 2
+
(Eqn.3) c c c2
!
Eqn. (1) to (3):
v 2 "t 22 v2
"t 22 = "t12 + "t1 = "t 2 1# 2
! c2 c
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 Time in different reference frames
1
Defining: "=
2
v
v
1# h1 h2
c2

As measured by Observer 2 outside the train,

Time is not absolute.
!
"t 2 = #"t1 t1 : proper time as
measured on the rest
Gamma factor: frame (moving train)
v < c : " >1

!
Conclusion: Clock in motion (inside the train) run slower.
Time measured by observer on the station (t2) who sees the train in motion
is greater
! than the time measured by an observer inside the train (t1).
TIME DILATION
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 Length in different reference frames
As measured by observer 1 inside the train: v
2l1 l1=le+lr
l e + l r = 2l = 2c"t1 # "t1 = le
c
lr
As measured by Observer 2 at the station,

"t 2,e = (l 2 # v"t 2,e )c

!
"t 2,r = (l 2 + v"t 2,r )c
Rearrange:
l2 l1: proper length
"t 2,e =
c+v l2: as measured by an observer
! outside (on the station)
l2
"t 2,r =
c#v
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 Length contraction
As measured by observer 2 outside the train: v
l2 l2 l1=le+lr
le
"t 2 = "t 2,e + "t 2,r = +
c+v c#v lr

# 2c & l 2 # 2c & 2 2l 2
= l2 % 2 2(
= 2% 2 2(
=)
$ c " v ' c $ 1 " v /c ' c
! LENGTH CONTRACTION
With time dilation,

2l 2 2l1 l1 where >1

" 2
= "#t1 = " l2 =
! "
c c
CONCLUSION: Moving objects appear contracted!

! !
 Length perpendicular to v
Consider: Train moving towards a tunnel with v = 0.9c
Reference frames:
Train: Height of train, htrain = 3.5 m
Tunnel: Height of tunnel, htunnel = 4.0 m
Length contraction: L = Lo where = 2.29
In tunnels reference frame: the height of train is 3.5
htrain = = 1.5m
(TRAIN FITS TUNNEL) 2.29
In trains reference frame: the height of tunnel is 4.0
htunnel = = 1.7 m
2.29
Different observer has different conclusion violates relativity principle
CONCLUSION:

Length perpendicular to the direction of motion does not

contract.
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 Brief Summary
Consider two reference frames: S and S
S is moving w.r.t. S with velocity v
parallel to x where S S
(x,y,z,t) the coordinate in S frame
(x,y,z,t) the coordinate in the S frame
Time is dilated (i.e. clock runs slow) as
observed in S. "t = #"t '
t : the proper time (fastest clock)
Length parallel to the direction of motion in S
is contracted as observed in S
lo
l=
lo : the proper length (maximum length) "
1 !v
"= >1 "=
2
1# $ c
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!
 Clicker Questions
1. Moving clock runs slow: At what speed does a clock move if it
runs at a rate which is one-half the rate of a clock at rest?

2. Moving rods contract: at what speed does a meter stick move if

its length is observed to shrink to 0.5 m?

3. A rod of length Lo moves with a speed v along the horizontal

direction. The rod makes an angle o with respect to the x-axis in
S frame.
a) What is the length of the rod as measured by a stationary observer?
b) What is the angle the rod makes with the x-axis in the S frame?

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 Clicker Questions
4. A relativistic conveyor belt (in S) is moving at a speed v = 0.75c
relative to a reference frame S. Two observers in S are standing
beside the belt 10 m apart. They arrange that each will paint a mark
on the belt at exactly the same instant. Find the distance between
the marks as measured by the observers on the belt.

5. A spaceship resting on earth has a length of 35 m. As it departs on

a trip to another planet, it has a length of 30 m as measured by the
earthbound observers. The earthbound observers also notice that
one of the astronauts on the spaceship exercises for 20 mins. How
long would the astronaut herself say that she exercises?

6. A rectangular billboard in space has the dimensions 10 m x 20 m.

How fast, and in what direction with respect to the billboard would a
space traveler have to pass for the billboard to appear square?
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 Lorentz transformation (optional)
When S is moving w.r.t S with velocity v parallel to x-axis

x' = " ( x # vt ) y' = y

S S $ v ' z' = z
t' = " & t # 2 x )
% c (
Coordinate transformation from S (at rest) to S (in motion):
Coordinate transformation from S (in motion) to S!(at rest):
Coordinates perpendicular to the direction of motion do not change.
!
v x = " ( x' +vt')
S S # v &
t = " % t' + 2 x' (
$ c '
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 Velocity transformation (optional)
Consequence of Lorentz transformation.
The velocity of an object in S measured by an
observer in S is: S S

dx '
d ( " ( x' +vt' )) ' ' +v
dx dx + vdt
ux = = = = dt'
dt # # v && dt' + v dx ' v dx '
d %" % t' + 2 x' (( 2 1+ 2
$ $ c '' c c dt'

u 'x + v ux " v
ux = OR u 'x =
! vu 'x vu x
1+ 2 1" 2
c c
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 Velocity transformation (optional)
Consequence of Lorentz transformation.
The velocity of an object in S measured by an
observer in S is: S S

dy '
dy dy' dy ' dt'
uy = = = =
dt # # v && dt' + v dx ' v dx '
d %" % t' + 2 x' (( 2 1+ 2
$ $ c '' c c dt'

u 'y u 'z
uy = AND uz =
!
'
vu x vu 'x
1+ 2
1+ 2
c c 16
 Relativistic Momentum (optional)
Must satisfy these two criteria:
Relativistic momentum must reduce to Newtonian momentum at
low speeds.
r
r mu r
p= = $m o u
2
1" #
mo is the rest mass.
The total momentum of a system of particles is always
conserved in all frames of reference, whether or not the total
number of particles involved is constant.
!

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 Relativistic energy (optional)
Relativistic Kinetic Energy:
moc 2
K= " moc 2
1" # 2
Relativistic total energy: The total relativistic energy of a system of
particles is always conserved in all frames of reference, whether or not
the total number of particles remains a constant.

!E = K + moc 2
E 2 = p 2c 2 + mo2c 4
For a single particle with rest mass mo (as mo --> 0, i.e. photons)

E = pc E photon = hf
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!
 World lines (optional)
Minkowski or space time diagram plots the positions in space and
time of the various events.
In particular, it plots the motion of a particle through space and
time.

Ref: J D Cresser, THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY, McQuarie University, Sydney, Australia (2003) 19
 THE END
Thank you for your attention and
Good luck.

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