Lecture 6

Pole and Barn Paradox

L
1

L
2

v
L
1
> L
2

P. 48-50, textbook
Lecture 6
Quiz
In class, we explained, from the perspective of an observer in
the laboratory, why muons were detected at a higher rate at the
sea level than expected. How would an observer in the frame
of the muons explain the same phenomenon?
1. The average lifetime of muons is longer due to time dilation;
2. The distance traveled is shorter due to length contraction;
3. The average speed of muons is greater than the speed of light;
4. There is something wrong with the experiment;
5. It must be the aliens
Lecture 6
Lorentz Invariance
Assuming the origins of inertial frames S and S coincide only
at t = t = 0, when a light pulse is generated. According to
Einsteins second postulate, the wave front of the light pulse
should evolve spherical symmetrically around the respective
origin, as seen by an observer in either inertial frames.
2 2 2 2 2
t c z y x = + +
In reference frame S,
2 2 2 2 2
) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( t c z y x
!
=
!
+
!
+
!
In reference frame S,
Lecture 6
Mathematical Proof
[ ]
( ) [ ]
( ) ( )
2
2
2
2 2 2 2
2
2
2
2
2 2
2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2
2
2
2 2 2 2 2 2
) ( 1 ) ( ) ( ) ( 1
2
) (
) ( ) ( ) ( 2 ) (
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
t c
c
v
z y x
c
v
c
x v
c
x v t
t c
z y t v t v x x
c
x v
t c z y t v x
!
" =
!
+
!
+
!
"
!
+
! !
+
!
=
!
+
!
+
!
+
! !
+
!
!
+
!
=
!
+
!
+
!
+
!
# #
#
#
# #
2 2 2 2 2
) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( t c z y x
!
=
!
+
!
+
!
Using Lorentz transformation, we have
Lecture 6
Spacetime Interval
In general, we can define a spacetime interval as follows:
] ) ( ) ( ) [( ) ( ) (
2 2 2 2 2
z y x t c s ! + ! + ! " ! = !
It can be shown, similarly, that the spacetime interval is Lorentz
invariant, or it has the same value in all inertial frames.
0 ) (
2
> !s
If , the interval is timelike. The spacetime interval
between any two causally connected events must be timelike,
since nothing can move faster than the speed of light.
0 ) (
2
= !s If
, the interval is lightlike.
0 ) (
2
< !s If
, the interval is spacelike. No causality is possible
between two events that define a spacelike spacetime interval.
Lecture 6
Casuality
Spacetime regions: Casuality zone:
Lecture 6
Relativistic Velocity
) (
) (
2
c
x v
t t
z z
y y
t v x x
!
+
!
=
!
=
!
=
!
+
!
=
"
"
) (
) (
2
c
vx
t t
z z
y y
vt x x
! =
"
=
"
=
"
! =
"
#
#
Lorentz Transformation:
!
"
#
$
%
&
' =
!
"
#
$
%
&
' =
(
x
u
c
v
dt
dx
c
v
dt
t d
2 2
1 1 ) )
Lecture 6
Relativistic Velocity-Contd
2
2
2 2
2
2
1
1 ) (
c
v
u
c
v
u u v u
c
v
u
u
c
v
v u
dt
t d
v
dt
t d
t d
x d
dt
t d
v
dt
x d
dt
dx
u
x x x x x
x x
x
!
"
! +
"
=
#
$
%
&
'
(
!
#
$
%
&
'
(
! ) +
"
=
#
$
%
&
'
(
"
+
"
"
"
=
#
$
%
&
'
(
"
+
"
= =
* *
* *
2
1
c
v u
v u
u
x
x
x
!
+
+
!
=
Lecture 6
Relativistic Velocity-Contd
2
2
2
2
2
2
2 2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
c
v u
c
v
dt
t d
c
v u
c
v
c
v u
c
v u
c
v u
v u
c
v
dt
t d
x
x
x x
x
x
!
+
"
=
!
!
+
"
!
"
!
+
=
#
#
#
$
%
&
&
&
'
(
!
+
+
!
" =
!
)
)
dt
t d
t d
y d
dt
dy
u
y
!
!
!
= =
2
2
2
1
1
c
v u
c
v
u u
x
y y
!
+
"
!
=
2
2
2
1
1
c
v u
c
v
u u
x
z z
!
+
"
!
=
Lecture 6
Velocity Transformation
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
c
v u
c
v
u u
c
v u
c
v
u u
c
v u
v u
u
x
z z
x
y y
x
x
x
!
+
"
!
=
!
+
"
!
=
!
+
+
!
=
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
c
v u
c
v
u u
c
v u
c
v
u u
c
v u
v u
u
x
z z
x
y y
x
x
x
!
!
=
"
!
!
=
"
!
!
=
"
Lecture 6
Examples
1. Let
c u
x
=
!
we have
c
c
v
v c
c
v u
v u
u
x
x
x
=
+
+
=
!
+
+
!
=
1
1
2
2. In a laboratory frame S, two particles move at the speed of
light in opposite directions. What is the velocity of a particle
as measured by an observer sitting on the other particle?
c c
x
S
S
x
c v c u
x
= ! = ,
c
c c
c
v u
v u
u
x
x
x
! =
+
! !
=
!
!
=
"
1 1
1
2
Lecture 6
Relativistic Acceleration
2
/ 1 c u v
v u
u
x
x
x
!
+
+
!
=
t d
u d
a
dt
du
a
x
x
x
x
!
!
=
!
= ,
and
( )
( )
( ) ( )
2
2 2
2
2
2 2
2 2
2
2
/ 1 / 1
/ 1
/ 1
/ 1
c u v
u d
c u v
u d c v
c
u vd
c u v
v u
c u v
u d
du
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
!
+
!
=
!
+
!
"
=
!
!
+
+
!
"
!
+
!
=
#
t d c u v c x vd t d dt
x
! !
+ =
!
+
!
= ) / 1 ( ) / (
2 2
" "
Lecture 6
Relativistic Acceleration-Contd
( )
3
2 3
/ 1 c u v
a
a
x
x
x
!
+
!
=
"
As for the y or z component, the expression becomes cumbersome.
( )
2
/ 1 c u v
u
u
x
y
y
!
+
!
=
"
( )
( )
2 2
2
2
/ 1
/ 1 c
u vd
c u v
u
c u v
u d
du
x
x
y
x
y
y
!
!
+
!
"
!
+
!
=
#
#
Lecture 6
Relativistic Acceleration-Contd
( )
( )
( )
3
2 2
2
2
2 2
/ 1
/
/ 1 c u v
a c u v
c u v
a
dt
du
a
x
x y
x
y y
y
!
+
! !
"
!
+
!
= =
# #
Now, imagine an inertial frame S in which the object is at rest
instantaneously, i.e., its velocity is equal to 0, the acceleration
measured by an observer in S is then
2 2 3
, ,
! ! !
z
z
y
y
x
x
a
a
a
a
a
a
"
=
"
=
"
=
Lecture 6
Reading Assignments
Chapter 2, 2-1 and 2-2