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The Postulates
And there are the two of postulates of relativity, which Einstein’s theory is based:
1. The Relativity Postulate: The idea that the laws of physics are the same and
can be stated in their simplest form in all inertial frames of reference.
Galileo accept that the laws of mechanics were the same in all inertial frame of
reference. Einistein develop this idea to add all the laws of physics, especially those
of electromagnetism and optics. But most of them are not the same. It is the laws of
physics, which relate these measurements to one another, these are the same.
frames of reference. Light happens to travel in this ultimate speed. No entity that
carries energy or information can exceed this limit. Also particle that don’t has mass
can actually reach speed c, no matter how much or for how long that particle is
increased. We can also say about this postulate that there is in nature an ultimate
speed c, the same in all directions and in all inertial
Both of postulates have been comprehensively tested, and no exceptions have ever
been found.
𝜋0 → 𝛾 + 𝛾
Gammy rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and so obey the
speed of light postulate, just visible light does.
The Lorentz transformations
In physics, the Lorentz transformations are a six-parameter family of linear
transformations from a coordinate frame in spacetime to another frame that moves
at a constant velocity relative to the former. The respective inverse transformation
is then parameterized by the negative of this velocity. The transformations are
named after the Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz.
The left-hand sides Equations 1.1 and 1.2 can be set equal because both are zero.
Because y=y′ and z=z′ , we obtain
To find the correct set of transformation equations, assume the two coordinate
systems S and S′ in Figure 2.1 . First suppose that an event occurs at (x′,0,0,t′) in
S′ and at (x,0,0,t) in S , as depicted in Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1
The axes of frames S and S prime are shown. S has axes x, y, and z. S prime is
moving to the right with velocity v and has axes x prime, y prime and z prime. S and
S prime are aligned along the horizontal x and x prime axes and are separated by a
distance v t. An event on the horizontal x and x prime axes is indicated by a point
which is a distance x from the y z plane of the S frame and a distance x prime from
the y prime, z prime plane of the S prime frame.
Suppose that at the instant that the origins of the coordinate systems in S and S'
coincide, a flash bulb emits a spherically spreading pulse of light starting from the
origin. At time t, an observer in S finds the origin of S' to be at x=vt . With the help
of a friend in S, the S' observer also measures the distance from the event to the
origin of S' and finds it to be x′√1 − 𝑣 2 ⁄𝑐 2 . This follows because we have already
shown the postulates of relativity to imply length contraction. Thus the position of
the event in S is
x =vt+ x′√1 − 𝑣 2 ⁄𝑐 2
and
𝑥−𝑣𝑡
x′= (1.4)
𝑥′√1−𝑣 2 ⁄𝑐 2
The postulates of relativity imply that the equation relating distance and time of
the spherical wave front:
X2+y2+z2−c2t2=0
must apply both in terms of primed and unprimed coordinates, which was shown
above to lead to Equation:
x2−c2t2=x′2−c2t′2.
We combine this with Equation 1.4 that relates x and x' to obtain the relation
𝑡−𝑣𝑥/𝑐 2
between t and t′: 𝑡′ =
√(1−𝑣 2 /𝑐 2 )
The equations relating the time and position of the events as seen in S are then
𝑡‘+𝑣𝑥‘/𝑐 2
𝑡= (1.5)
√(1−𝑣 2 /𝑐 2 )
𝑥‘+𝑣𝑡‘
𝑥= (1.6)
√1−𝑣 2 /𝑐 2
This set of equations, relating the position and time in the two inertial frames, is
known as the Lorentz transformation. They are named in honor of H.A. Lorentz
(1853–1928), who first proposed them. Interestingly, he justified the transformation
on what was eventually discovered to be a fallacious hypothesis. The correct
theoretical basis is Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
Time dilation
Assume now that 2 events happen at the same place S’ (so ∆𝑥 ′ = 0)but at the
different times (so ∆𝑡′ ≠ 0).
This approves time dilation between frames S and S’.Moreover, because the 2
events happen at the same place in S’, the time interval ∆𝑡’ between them can be
measured with a single clock, situated at the place. Under these conditions, the
measured interval is a proper time interval, and we can label it t as we have
previously labeled proper times.So with that label Eq 1.9 becomes
Length Contraction
We made mention earlier that as a result of special relativity absolute space and
absolute time do not exist. Rather, the two are interdependent, and any change in
time must cause a change in space (length or distance) and vice versa. How can this
be explained?
The fact that speed is the ratio of length to time means that both length and time
must change, in just the right proportion, in order to ensure the speed of light
remain constant.
We, therefore, can determine the change in length by using the result we found
for time dilation.
Let us suppose Earth-bound observers watch a spaceship that travels with velocity v
between two distant points. The distance between the two points as measured by
an Earth-bound observer is 𝐿0 , and the time for the trip is t
We can then state
𝐿0 = 𝑣𝑡 (Equation A).
𝑡0
However, t= (Equation B).
√1−𝑣 2 ⁄𝑐 2
spaceship, so L=𝐿0 √1 − 𝑣 2 ⁄𝑐 2
The distance the observers in the space ship measure compared to the distance
that observers on Earth measure is therefore shorter, since √1 − 𝑣 2 ⁄𝑐 2 < 1
The shortening of distance is called length contraction and it is not limited to the
“space” between two points. The same contraction occurs for material objects. For
example, if one inertial frame, moving with a velocity v, passed another inertial
frame containing a meter stick, the observers in these frames will not agree on the
length of the meter stick. Those at rest relative to the meter stick will claim it does
measure one meter. The occupants of the moving frame, on the other hand, will
claim it is shorter than one meter.