Inverse Formula

Example

• “Quantitative” answer to the quick test: • The spaceship is moving at 0.8c with respect to the
spacestation: v = 0.8c

• The missile is moving at 0.6c with respect to the spaceship:

u’x=0.6c

• One needs the speed of the missile observed by the

observer in space station: ux ?
• For the outside observer (in K) you are travelling at v = +c
and the light is coming towards you at ux = -c. dx  dx'vdt ' u ' x v
ux     u x  0.946c
    
dt  dt ' v / c 2 dx' 1  v / c 2 u ' x 
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Inverse Formula Relativity of Time

• You need to find out the speed u’x of the incoming light in Flash of light emitted by E and
your own referential frame (K’): E: emitter received by R:
R: receiver
For the observer attached to
the system: Δt0 = 2L0/c
ux  v
u'x   u ' x  c The system is moving at a velocity v. The outside observer
 
1  v / c2 ux sees:

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Example Time Dilation

• A space ship is sent to intercept an asteroid. It is moving away
from the space station at a speed of 0.8c. It fires a proton beam
parallel to its direction of motion towards the asteroid. The beam
moves at a speed of 0.6c relative to the ship. What is the speed of
the missile for the observer on the space station ?
• For the outside observer:
• The system has moved d = vΔt while the light has traveled
Δt = 2L/c
• Pythagoras theorem: L = √(L02 + (vΔt/2)2)

• With L0 = cΔt0/2 and a bit of calculation: t  t0

• Note: Δt0  proper time, e.g. time measured by the clock
attached to the system
• Δt > Δt0  the clock runs always slower for the outside
observer
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 Relativity of Length
Time Dilation
• Or  the clock runs slower and slower when v
approches c E: emitter
R: receiver

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Length Contraction
Example:
• For the outside observer:
A cesium atomic clock (a highly precise timing device) is flown • It takes Δt1 for the light to do the first part of the trip
around the earth at 1000 km/h. How much time does it lose and Δt2 for the second part
relative to a similar clock that remains at the origin ? (Circ. t  t1  t 2
Earth = 40,000 km) [SIMPLIFICATION: fixed earth frame: non- t1  L
ct1  L  vt1 c  v  1
rotating, non-orbiting, flight at constant speed (acceleration  v2 
and deceleration neglected)] ct 2  L  vt 2 t 2  L
c  v   2L / c 1  2 
 c 
• Now, time dilation effect:

t  t0

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Length Contraction
Example:
2 L0
• v = 1000 km/h  278 m/s • Knowing that: 2 L0  ct0 t0 
• T = 40000/1000 = 40 hrs  144000 s c
• Therefore:
Binomial expansion:
1
  γ = 1 + 0.5(v/c)2 = 1 + 4.3 x 10-13 1 1
 v2   v2 
t  2L / c 1  2  t0  2L / c 1  2 
2
1 v 2
c  c   c 
1
Every 1 s, the moving clock is losing 4.3 x 10-13 s compared to 2 L0  2 L  v 2   v2 
the clock at rest. After 40 hrs, the moving clock lost 4.3 x 10-    1  2  L  1  2  L0
13 x 40 x 3600 = 62 nanoseconds c  c  c   c 
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 Length Contraction Time dilation and length contraction

• Or: L   1 L0 • Muon decay 1000 muons

traveling at 0.98c
detected at 2000 m
• L0 is rest length or proper length
540 muons
“survived” at sea
level

Radioactive decay:

N t   N 0 t e  ln 2t / T

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Length Contraction Time dilation and length contraction

• Example: T = 1.52 μs, half-life of

• Muon decay muons

What length will observers measure for a spaceship To travel 2000 m, muons
moving relative to them at 0.99c if its occupants takes 2000/(0.98c) = 6.8μs
determine the length of the ship to be 50 m?
Thus, according to classical
physics,

L   1 L0 L   1 50 m N 6.8 s   45
Number of muons that will
“survive”
L  7.1 m
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Time dilation and length contraction Time dilation and length contraction

• The two descriptions are equivalent • Muon decay – time dilation

• Both observers see the time dilation and length
contraction affecting the other observer
• If v << c, then L ≈ L0 and Δt ≈ Δt0
• Back to classical mechanics
t  t 0
• Observers on earth: time is dilated,
• Muons appear to have longer half-life than it’s rest half-life T:
• Muons “surviving” at sea level:
Tearth  7.64 s
N t   1000e  ln 2 ( 6.8 / 7.64 )

 540

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 Time dilation and length contraction

• Muon decay – length contraction

• Observers on earth: 2000 m to be traversed

• But for muons, L   1 L0 , and L = 398 m

• Muons travels this distance in t = 398 / 0.98c = 1.35 μs

• And finally, N t   1000e  ln 2 (1.35 /1.52 ) = 540

• Note: Use T = 1.52 μs since we are at the reference frame of
the muons

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