JIF103 PHYSICS 1

Worksheet 3
Solve Lorentz Transformation of Spacetime

How to relate the position and time of an event observed

by you and a drone travelling near the speed of light?

Is the length of the drone as measured by you equals to

the length at which the drone measures itself?

uconstant near c
y y’
x, y, t
x’, y’, t’

event

you x drone x’

Sp ecial Relativity M aths Problem Solving Series

Illustrate Lorentz transformation of spacetime ( u near c)

How to relate the position of an event observed by you and a drone travelling near the speed of light?

x’, y’, t motion along x-axis, y = y’

uconstant near c
x, y, t
ux
y y’ t−
ux′ x − ut x’ t′ = c2
t′ + x′ = 2
x′ + ut ′ t= c2 2 u
x= 2 u
1−   1−  
2 u c c
u
1−   1−  
c c
event
you x drone x’

Is your measurement of the length of the drone equals to the length at which the drone measures itself? NO
uconstant near c
y y’
x1′
Length of the drone as measured by you =
x2′
You measured the length simultaneously, t1 = t2
Lo
you x drone x’
0

Lo = x2′ − x1′ =
x2 − ut1
−
x1 − ut2
=
( x2 − x1 ) + u ( t2 − t1 ) = L
= γL
2 2 2 2
u u u u
1−   1−   1−   1−  
c c c c

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 2
To help you learn on how to transform the position and time in one reference frame to the other when the relative speed
near c, let’s go over Example 3.1.

Example 3.1 Use lorentz transformation to calculate the position and time

A volcano eruption has an earth spacetime coordinates, (x,t) = (1300 m , 3 µs). What is the
coordinates of the eruption as detected by a spacestation moving at 0.4c along the x-axis?

Steps Actions

1 Sketch the situation

u = 0.4c
spacestation
earth (x’ ,t ’) = ?

x’
(x,t) = (1300, 3×10−6)

2 From the question, identify the relative speed

A volcano eruption has an earth spacetime coordinates, (x,t) = (1300 m , 3 µs). What is the coordinates of the
eruption as detected by a spacestation moving at 0.4c along the x-axis?

relative speed near c, so use lorentz transformation to calculate the spacetime coordinates

3 Solve using the lorentz transformation of spacetime

 
 ux 
t− 2
 x − ut 
( x′, t ′ ) =  2
, c
2 
 1−  u  u 
1−   
  
 c c 
 ( 0.4 )(1300 ) 
 1300 − ( 0.4 ) ( 3 ×108 )( 3 ×10−6 ) 3 ×10 −
−6

= , 3 ×108 
 − ( ) − ( ) 
2 2
 1 0.4 1 0.4 
 
= (1026 m,1.4 ×10 s ) −6

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 3
Example 3.2 Use lorentz transformation to calculate the position and time

A space telescope travelling at 0.6c observes a collision between two comets at coordinates,
(x’,t’) = (4 ×106 m ,120 s). What is the coordinates of the collision as observed by the earth
astronomers.

Steps Actions

1 Sketch the situation

u = 0.6c
telescope
earth (x’ ,t ’) = (4 ×106,120)

x’
(x,t) = ?

2 From the question, identify the relative speed

relative speed near c, so use lorentz transformation to calculate the spacetime coordinates

A space telescope travelling at 0.6c observes a collision between two comets at coordinates,
(x’,t’) = (4 ×106 m ,120 s). What is the coordinates of the collision as observed by the earth
astronomers.

3 Solve using the lorentz transformation of spacetime

 
 ux′ 
′ ′ t′ + 2
+
( x, t ) =  
x ut c
, 
2 2
 1−  u  u
1−   
   
 c c 
 ( 0.6 ) ( 4 ×106 ) 
 4 ×106 − ( 0.6 ) ( 3 ×108 ) (120 ) 120 − 
=  , 3 × 10 8

 1 − ( 0.6 )
2
1 − ( 0.6 )
2 
 
 
( 2.7 ×1010 m,150s )
=−

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 4
Activity 3.1 Solve the following lorentz trnsformation of spacetime problems

1. A galaxy voyager travelling at 0.5c receives a warning message from the earth controller about
the debris from a meteor hitting a nearby planet that occurs at time 1200 hr and positioned 500
km ahead. What are the voyager spacetime coordinates of the collision as calculated by its
computer?

2. Siti sees a light turn on at x = 452 m when t = 1.43 µs. At what time and what location does the
light turn on as detected by Adam who is travelling at 0.6c?

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 5
3. A rocket is launched at coordinates, (x,t) = (400 m, 10 s). What are the coordinates of the launch as detected
by a drone moving at − 0.8c along the x-axis?

4. A gas leakage occurs at the fuel cell compartment at x’ = 2 m, y’ = 3.9 m and t’ = 0 s in a space
shuttle. The space shuttle is moving at 0.7c along the x-axis. What are the coordinates of the
gas leakage according to the mission controller on earth?

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 6
5. A light signal is sent horizontally along the x-axis from the origin of a space station system at
t’= 0 to a point x’ = 3 m, y’ = 6 m and z’= 5 m.

(a) At what time t’ is the signal received?

(b) What are the spacetime coordinates for the receipt of the signal in the earth mission
control frame if the space station is moving at 0.8c along the x-axis?

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 7
6. In a spacestation reference frame, a manipulator arm is positioned at the origin and an antenna
3 km away. A super-charged solar wind hits both the arm and the antenna at time, t = 20 µs
causing a blackout in the spacestation. The solar wind events were observed by a passing rocket
travelling at 0.9c.
(a) What are the spacetime coordinates of the solar wind events in the rocket’s reference
frame?

(b) Is the distance between the arm and antenna in the rocket’s reference frame equals to that
in the spacestation reference frame? Justify your answer.

(c) Are the events simultaneous in the rocket’s frame? If not, which occurs first?

(d) What can you conclude from questions 3(b) and (c) about length and simultaneity
respectively.

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 8
7. Mary sees a purple flash of light at the origin at tp = 0 s and a red flash of light occurs at xr
= 3.6 km when tr = 7.8 µs. What are the distance and time interval between the flashes according
to Faiz who is travelling at 0.7c relative to Mary?

8. Ahmad sees a green flash occurs at xg = 10.4 m when tg = 0.124 µs and a blue flash occurs at xb
= 23.6 m when tb = 0.138 µs. If the two flashes appear to be simultaneous to David who is
travelling at constant speed relative to Ahmad, what is David’s speed?

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 9
9. A seismic scientist detects two seismic vibrations, one that occurs near him at a certain time and
another that occurs 3 ms later 250 km away. Another scientist finds the two vibrations occur at
the same place. According to other scientist, what is the time interval that separates the
vibrations?

10. Ziad detects two explosions that occur at the same time, one near him and the other 90 km away.
A drone detects the explosions occur 150 km apart. According to the drone, what time interval
separates the explosions?

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 10
11. Two events occurs on earth at position and time as follows:

2a
Event 1: x1 = a t1 =
c
3a
Event 2: x2 = 2a t2 =
2c

Is it possible for these events to occur at the same

(a) time. Justify your answer.

(b) place? Justify your answer.

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 11
12. drone

clock 1 clock 2

0 L

FIGURE 3.1

FIGURE 3.1 shows a flash of light emitted from a point midway between two clocks which
starts the two clocks simultaneously according to an observer O at rest with the clocks. According
to a drone moving near the speed of light from left to right, will the clocks be simultaneous, clock
1 starts ahead of clock 2 by ∆t’ or clock 2 starts ahead of clock 1 by ∆t’. Use equations to explain
your answer. What can you conclude from this question?

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 12
Time to reflect:

What is your strategy in solving the lorentz transformation of spacetime?

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Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 13
WORKSHEET 3 Solve Lorentz Transformation of Spacetime

No. Answer

1 (x’,t’)voyager = (−7.48×1014 m, 1385.6 hr)

2 (x’,t’)Adam = (243.3 m, 0.658 µs)

3 (x’,t’)drone = (4×109 m, 16.7 s)

4 (x,y,t)mission controller = (2.8 m, 3.9 m, 6.5 ns)

5 (a) t’= 1×10−8 s

(b) (x,y,z,t)earth mission controller = (9 m, 6 m, 5m, 3×10−8 s)

6 (a) (x’,t’)manipulator arm = (−12,388.4 m, 4.59×10−5 s)

(x’,t’)antenna = (−5505.98 m, 2.52×10−5 s)
(b) No, ∆xspacetation = 3×103 m, ∆x’rocket = − 6882.42 m
(c) Not simultaneous, solar wind hits the antenna first, t’antenna < t’manipulator arm
(d) Length and simultaneity are not absolute.
The rocket crew observed:
• distance@length between antenna and manipulator arm is contracted.
• the two events are not simultaneous.

7 d’Faiz = ∆x’ = 2.75 km

∆t’Faiz = 0.84 µs

8 uDavid = 9.55×107 m s−1 = 0.32 c

9 ∆t’other scientist = 3.35×10−3 s

(u = 8.33×107 m s−1 = 0.27 c)

10 ∆t’drone = 4×10−4 s
(u = = 0.8c)

11 (a) Yes, when the observer is moving at a constant relative speed of −0.5c.
(b) No, since it is impossible to travel at −2c.

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 14
 12  
 t − ux1 ux
t2 − 22  (t − t ) + u [ x − x ]
 1
c 2
c  1 2
c2
2 1 uL
∆t ' = t1 '− t2 ' =  −  = = >0
2 2 2 2
 1−  u  −
u  u
1−  
u
c2 1 −  
   1   
c c c c

Clock 1 starts ahead of Clock 2 by ∆t’

Drone sees the light waveform from clock 1 first.

faridah@usm.my

Worksheet 3 Lorentz transformation of spacetime JIF 103 Lorentz transformation: mathematics of special relativity 15