Problem 12a #3: Understanding Lorentz Transformations

Understanding Lorentz Transformations

Description: A simple numerical problem using Lorentz transformations, after which the length
contraction formula is derived from the Lorentz transformations.
Learning Goal: To be able to perform Lorentz transformations between inertial reference
frames.
Suppose that an inertial reference frame S' moves in the positive x direction at speed with
respect to another inertial reference frame S. In classical physics, the Galilean transformations
relate the coordinates measured for an event in frame S to the coordinates measured for the same
event in frame S'. Assuming that both frames have the same origin (i.e., at ,
), the Galilean transformations take the following simple form:
,
.
The Galilean transformations are not valid at very large speeds. To transform between inertial
frames when is close to the speed of light , we need to use the Lorentz transformations of
special relativity. Again, assuming that both frames have the same origin, the Lorentz
transformations take the following form:

.
These equations become more manageable with the introduction of the quantity
,
so that the Lorentz transformations become
,
.
Often, the space-time coordinates for an event will be given in the form , or just
when the y and z coordinates are not important.
Part A
Consider an event with space-time coordinates in an inertial frame
of reference S. Let S' be a second inertial frame of reference moving, in the positive x direction,
with speed relative to frame S. Find the value of that will be needed to
transform coordinates between frames S and S'. Use for the speed of light in
vacuum.
Express your answer to three significant figures.
ANSWER:

=


2.294

Part B
Suppose that S and S' share the same origin; that is, at , . Using the you
calculated in Part A, find , the x coordinate of the event in frame S'.
Express your answer in meters to three significant figures.
ANSWER:

=


6.65010
8




Part C
Now find , the t coordinate of the event in frame S'.
Express your answer in seconds to three significant figures.
ANSWER:

=


2.87




Suppose that you are stationary with respect to an inertial reference frame Z. A spaceship flies by
you in the positive x direction with speed . Let Z' be the frame of reference associated with the
spaceship; that is, the ship is stationary with respect to Z'. The frames Z and Z' have the same
origin at . The proper length of the ship (the length of the ship as measured in the ship's
frame, Z') is . In other words, a passenger on the ship measures the back of the ship to be at
and the front to be at .
Part D
Find the factor that should be used to transform between frames Z and Z'.
Express your answer in terms of and .
ANSWER:

=





Part E
At time , in your frame of reference Z, you measure the back of the spaceship to be at
and the front of the ship to be at . Find an equation relating the length that you
measure to the ship's proper length .
Hint E.1 Transforming between Z and Z'
According to the Lorentz transformation, . Since you make your measurements
at , this equation simplifies to . To find the length, you must apply this
transformation to the ship's front and back coordinates:
.
In your frame of reference Z, and .
Express your answer in terms of and .
ANSWER:

=

Problem 12a #5: Time is Relative
Time is Relative
Description: Consider two events occurring at the same space point in a frame of reference,
find their space distance as measured in a moving frame of reference, given the time intervals
between the two events measured in both frames of reference.
Part A
Two events are observed in a frame of reference S to occur at the same space point, with the
second event occurring after a time of 1.70 . In a second frame S' moving relative to S, the
second event is observed to occur after a time of 2.25 . What is the difference between
the positions of the two events as measured in S'?

Hint A.1 How to approach the problem
Although the two events are observed to occur at the same location in S, from the point of
view of an observer at rest in S' they occur at a space distance that depends on the relative
speed of the two frames of reference and the time elapsed between the two events as
measured by the observer in S'.
Note that the observer at rest in S' will see the source of the event moving with speed .
Therefore, to find the difference between the positions of the two events as measured in S',
you need to determine the relative speed . To do that, use the relativistic relationship
between the time interval measured in S and the one measured in S'.
Hint A.2 Find the expression for the space distance between the two events
If the speed of S' relative to S is , which of the following expressions for the space
distance between the two events as measured in S' is correct?
Here, and are the time intervals between the two events as measured in S and S',
respectively.
ANSWER:








Hint A.3 Find the relative speed
What is the speed of the frame of reference S ' with respect to the frame S?
Hint A.3.1 Time dilation
Since the speed of light is the same in all frames of reference (Einstein's postulate), the
time interval between two events that are observed to occur at the same space point in
a given frame of reference S is not the same in all reference frames. An observer in a
frame S' moving with speed relative to S would measure a longer time interval between
those two same events because of the relativistic effect of time dilation. The time
interval measured in the moving frame S' is

.
If you know the time interval , also called proper time, and , you can derive an
expression for the relative speed .

Hint A.3.2 Find the proper time
The time interval between two events occurring at the same space point as measured in a
particular frame of reference is called the proper time. What is the value of the proper
time in this case?
Express your answer numerically in seconds.
ANSWER:

=


1.70




Express your answer numerically in meters per second.
ANSWER:

=





1.9610
8



Use 3.0010
8
for the speed of light in a vacuum.
ANSWER:

=




4.4210
8







Reasoning and solution:
Note that the proper time is t
1
=1.70 s for the observer S. For the observer S, these two events
occur at different locations with time interval t
2
. The time dilation is t
2
=t
1
. Thus
1 -
u
2
c
2
= [
t
1
t
2

2

From this equation, one can solve for u, and the distance between these two events is ut
2
, which
is the answer above.