All Questions
Tagged with spacetime inertial-frames
290
questions
0
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1
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54
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Length Contraction: is $t'$ or $t = 0$?
To demonstrate my confusion - let's say there is a rod traveling with velocity +v relative to S, and in S, the length of the rod is measured to be $L$.
If I want to go from S to S', the frame where a ...
- 60
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3
answers
128
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Can you tell who is moving through time? [closed]
In relativity, there is no way to tell if you are moving through space. So, if you were inside of a box, there would be no way for you to tell if you were moving or not. However, can you know who is ...
- 33
1
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3
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175
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Seemingly equivalent linear form of the Sagnac effect
This is a derivative of the question regarding the Sagnac effect. Judging from the metric $ds^2=-dt^2+(rd\phi)^2$ for a constant $r$ for this question, it should be no different from that on a line ...
- 1,030
2
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3
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191
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Sagnac effect viewed in the rotating frame
Consider the Sagnac effect. It is quite simple viewed from the rest inertial frame what the time difference should be. However, if viewed from the frame fixed to and rotating together with the emitter/...
- 1,030
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3
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160
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Whether nonlinear coordinate transformations are symmetries of flat spacetime
I am editing this question after the answers are posted just to present my question a little clearly (without changing the main theme of the question). Moreover, this question is solely about flat ...
- 11.8k
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103
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Confusion with the Lorentz contraction as explained in "Introduction to Elementary Particles" by D. Griffiths
I am trying to understand how to derive the Lorentz contraction equation using the Lorentz transformations and while I know of a way to do this, I am still confused by a number of things, including ...
1
vote
2
answers
72
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Train example of special relativity
My friend Eric is at the center of the train. The train is moving forward. The front end and back end of the train flash a light at the same time. From Eric's perspective, both light arrives at him at ...
- 13
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1
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54
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Proof of the invariance of $c$ using the Lorentz group
Apologies if this question was already asked a few times but i could only find proofs of the invariance of $ ds^2 $.
Is there any way of proving the 2nd postulate (that $c$ is invariant in all ...
- 309
1
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1
answer
54
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Lorentz transformation of basis vectors in The geometry of Minkowski spacetime by Gregory L. Naber
Gregory L. Naber's book introduces the Lorentz transformation like this:
Now let $L :M→M$ be an orthogonal transformation of $M$ and
${e_1, e_2, e_3, e_4}$ an orthonormal basis for M. By Lemma 1.2.3, ...
- 11
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1
answer
90
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Proof of Invariance of Spacetime Interval?
I was going through Spacetime Physics by Taylor and Wheeler and came to a point where they showed a proof of Invariance of Spacetime Interval. You can find the proof Here and Here is the second part ...
- 121
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0
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28
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Generalizing the Galilean law of addition of velocities using the Lorentz transformation [closed]
I am reading about how to generalize the Galilean law of addition of velocities using the Lorentz transformation, but I am confused about one step.
Here, I have the following equations for Lorentz ...
- 63
-6
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2
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129
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Do the Lorentz transformations contradict reality by implying time had no beginning? [closed]
Consider the following two points, or events as they are more commonly called, in SpaceTime:
Event 1: $(x,t) = (0,0)$
Event 2: $(x,t) = (a,0)$
Take t=0 to correspond to the first moment in time.
As ...
- 179
-4
votes
4
answers
309
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Do the Lorentz transformations lead to negative amounts of time? [closed]
Consider the following two points, or events as they are more commonly called, in SpaceTime:
Event 1: $(x,t) = (0,0)$
Event 2: $(x,t) = (a,0)$
As you can see they are merely two separate locations, ...
- 179
5
votes
2
answers
892
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Why are there only three independent rotations and three independent boosts?
In what sense, there are only three independent rotations (i.e., rotations $R_x, R_y$, and $R_z$ about $x$, $y$, and $z$ axes, respectively)? Is it because any infinitesimal rotation about an ...
- 11.8k
2
votes
3
answers
240
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Relativity, Lorentz Transforms and the time it takes to perceive
I've been working a bit at understanding relativity a bit more, and understanding Lorentz transformations. I want to make sure I understand the meaning of a Lorentz transofmration, and when to use it ...
- 160