VELOCITY TRANSFORMATION

• Suppose we know the components of velocity of a particle in S frame

and want to find the same in S’ for the same particle.
• Let u be the relative velocity between frames. Constant as a function
of time.
• Let v be the instantaneous velocity of particle in S frame.
• Let v’ be the instantaneous velocity of particle in S’ frame.
• Imagine a particle is moving in x-direction in a frame S. let x1 be the
position of particle at time t1 and x2 be the position at t2.
• Note that, like displacement, the time difference has also to be
measured in one’s own frame.

SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 1

LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION EQUATIONS
• The linear equation gets reduced to Lorentz transformation equations
by substituting the values for the constants.

𝐱 −𝐯𝐭
x’ = 𝐯𝟐
𝟏− 𝟐
𝐜

y’ = y
z’ = z
𝐯𝐱
𝐭 − 𝐜𝟐
t’ = 𝐯𝟐
𝟏− 𝟐
𝐜

SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 2

• Lorentz transformation in the differential form.
uΔ𝐱
Δx’ = ꙋ (Δx – uΔt), Δy’ = Δy, Δz’ = Δz, Δt’ = ꙋ Δ𝐭 −
𝐜𝟐

Δx’ vx − u
=> v′
x = uvx
Δt’ 𝟏 − 𝟐
𝐜
Δy’ ′ vy
• => v y =
Δt’ ꙋ 𝟏 − uv𝐜 𝟐
x
Δz’ ′ vz
• => v z =
Δt’ ꙋ 𝟏 − uv𝐜 𝟐
x

These are velocity transformation equations(Vel addition theorem).

(You can also try by differentiating, (dx’/dt) / (dt’/dt)
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 3
• Inverse velocity transformation equations are given by

v′ x+u v′y v′z

vx = ; vy = ; vz =
uv′
𝟏+ 𝐜𝟐 x ꙋ uv′
𝟏+ 𝐜𝟐 x ꙋ uv′
𝟏+ 𝐜𝟐 x

• The corresponding classical law was given by v =v’ + u

𝐜 +𝐮
• For v’ = c, v= uc , v=c. this shows that when v’ = c, then, v=c is
𝟏+ 𝐜𝟐
independent of the value of u.

• All the observers measure the same speed c for light, exactly as
required by Einstein’s second postulate.

SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 4

10. Spacecraft Alpha is moving at 0.90C with respect to the earth. If spacecraft
Beta is to pass Alpha at a relative speed of 0.50C in the same direction. What
speed must Beta have with respect to the earth? (From Beiser)
Solution

According to the Galilean transformation

0.90C+0.50C =1.40C, not correct, because it is more than C.
Using V’x = 0.50C and v=0.90C, we get

𝑉′x+v 0.50𝐶+0.90𝐶
Vx= 𝑣𝑉′ 𝑥
= = 0.97C
(0.90𝐶)(0.50𝐶)
1+ 2 1+ 𝐶2
𝐶
Which is less than C.
 PROBLEMS
1. A spaceship moving away from the Earth at a speed of 0.80c fires a
missile parallel to its direction of motion (as in figure). The missile
moves at a speed of 0.60c relative to the ship. What is the speed of
the missile as measured by an observer on the Earth? (From Krane)
Solution
Here O’ is on the ship and O is on Earth; O’ moves with a speed of u =
0.80c relative to O. The missile moves at speed v’ = 0.60c relative to O’,
FIGURE
and we seek its speed v relative to O. Using Eqn, we obtain
A spaceship moves away from
𝑣 ′ +𝑢 Earth at a speed of 0.80c. An
𝑉= 𝑉′ 𝑢
= 0.95c.
1+ 2
𝐶
observer O on the spaceship
fires a missile and measures
According to classical expression, observer on the Earth would see the
its speed to be 0.60c relative
missile moving at 0.60c + 0.80c = 1.40c,
to the ship.
2. Two rockets are leaving their space station along perpendicular paths, as measured by an observer on the space station.
Rocket 1 moves at 0.60c and rocket 2 moves at 0.80c, both measured relative to the space station. What is the velocity of
rocket 2 as observed by rocket 1? (From Krane)
Solution
Observer O is the space station, observer O’ is rocket 1 (moving at u = 0.60c), and each observes rocket 2, moving (according to O) in a direction perpendicular to
rocket 1.
We take this to be the y direction of the reference frame of O. Thus O observes rocket 2 to have velocity components
vx= 0, vy= 0.80c, as shown in Figure a.

-0.6 C

= 0.64 C

The speed of rocket 2 according to O’ is (0.60c)2 + (0.64c)2 = 0.88c

FIGURE (a) As viewed from the reference frame of O.

(b) As viewed from the reference frame of O’.