Relativity Part III If twin Astrid aged 10

Relativity Part III If twin Astrid aged 10 years during her high -speed trip and Eartha aged 50 years, what is gamma ? What is u ? Ans: γ=5, u~0. 980 c Twin Paradox Quiz Length Contraction Relativistic motion perpendicular and parallel Next time: read 37. 6, 37. 7, 37. 8 to the boost Lorentz transformations 1

Twin Paradox Eartha and Astrid are twins. Eartha remains on Earth while Astrid travels at relativistic velocities throughout the galaxy. According to Eartha, Astrid’s heartbeat and life processes are proceeding more slowly than her own. When Astrid returns to Earth, she will be younger than Eartha. But can’t Astrid make the same argument ? Resolution: the situation is not symmetric. Astrid had to accelerate to attain relativistic velocities. Astrid is not in an inertial reference frame. 2

Q 10. 1 Mavis has a light clock with her on a train. The train is moving with respect to Stanley. Observing Mavis’ light clock, Stanley concluded that it is running A. B. C. D. Fast Slow At the same rate uncalibrated 3

Q 10. 1 Mavis has a light clock with her on a train. The train is moving with respect to Stanley. Observing Mavis’ light clock, Stanley concluded that it is running A. B. C. D. Fast Slow At the same rate Uncalibrated 4

Q 10. 2 According to Stanley, Mavis’ clock is running slow. To verify this, Stanley places two of his clocks at two locations, one at the beginning of the light pulse, one at the end of the light pulse. The “proper time” refers to A. The time interval of these two events as measured by Mavis’ clock. B. The time interval of these two events as measured by Stanley’s two clocks at two locations. C. A time interval measured by a clock in the inverted Lorentz frame. 5

Q 10. 2 According to Stanley, Mavis’ clock is running slow. To verify this, Stanley places two of his clocks at two locations, one at the beginning of the light pulse, one at the end of the light pulse. The “proper time” refers to A. The time interval of these two events as measured by Mavis’ clock. B. The time interval of these two events as measured by Stanley’s two clocks at two locations. C. A time interval measured by a clock in the inverted Lorentz frame. 6

Q 10. 3 According to Stanley, Mavis’ clock is running slow. A. Mavis agrees with Stanley that her clock is slow. B. Mavis disagrees with Stanley and claims that Stanley’s two clocks at two locations are not synchronized correctly. C. Mavis agrees with Stanley that the length of her spaceship is Lorentz contracted. 7

Q 10. 3 Stanley measures at two different space-time points According to Stanley, Mavis’ clock is running slow. A. Mavis agrees with Stanley that her clock is slow. B. Mavis disagrees with Stanley and claims that Stanley’s two clocks at two locations are not synchronized correctly. C. Mavis agrees with Stanley that the length of her spaceship is Lorentz contracted. 8

Another time dilation example (not a clicker) Mavis boards a spaceship and zips past Stanley on earth at a relative speed of 0. 600 c. At the instant she passes him both start timers. a) A short time later Stanley measures that Mavis has traveled 9. 00 x 107 m and is passing a space station. What does Stanley’s timer read as she passes the station ? What does Mavis’ timer read ? Reference frame S of Stanley; reference frame S’ of Mavis, speed of S’ relative to S is u=0. 600 c In S, Mavis passes at 0. 600 c = 1. 80 x 108 m/s and covers the distance in 9. 00 x 107 m/1. 80 x 108 m/s= 0. 500 s Mavis is measuring proper time 9

Recall meaning of “Proper time” • Proper time is the time interval between two events that occur at the same point in space. • A frame of reference can be pictured as a coordinate system with a grid of synchronized clocks, as in the Figure at the right. 10

Relativity of length 11

Relativity of length Measurement of length of ruler in Mavis’ frame Note that this is a proper time interval, start and stop are measured at the same point in space. Note “zero” subscripts on t and l 12

Relativity of length Stanley: distance from source to mirror Stanley: distance from mirror back to source Why did the sign change ? 13

Relativity of length 14

Relativity of length 15

Length contraction (Lorentz contraction) Length contraction 16

Length contraction (Lorentz contraction) Check: if u is such that Δt 0 = ½ Δt 1, what is l ? (in terms of proper length) A. ¼ l 0 B. ½ l 0 C. l 0 D. 2 l 0 17

Length contraction (Lorentz contraction) Check: if u is such that Δt 0 = ½ Δt 1, what is l ? (in terms of proper length) A. ¼ l 0 B. ½ l 0 C. l 0 D. 2 l 0 E. 4 l 0 Here γ = 2 18

English translation of Einstein’s 1905 paper on special relativity http: //www. fourmilab. ch/etexts/einstein/specrel/www/ 19

History: Special Relativity‘s impact on 20 th century art “In the intellectual atmosphere of 1905 it is not surprising that Einstein and Picasso began exploring new notions of space and time almost coincidentally. The main lesson of Einstein's 1905 relativity theory is that in thinking about these subjects, we cannot trust our senses. Picasso and Einstein believed that art and science are means for exploring worlds beyond perceptions, beyond appearances. Direct viewing deceives, as Einstein knew by 1905 in physics, and Picasso by 1907 in art. Just as relativity theory overthrew the absolute status of space and time, the cubism of Georges Braque and Picasso dethroned perspective in art. ” Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, 1907 20

Review: Time dilation vs velocity (the “gamma factor”) Introduce the γ factor. 21

Review: Length contraction (Lorentz contraction) Time dilation Limit u 0 ? ? Length contraction 22

Lengths perpendicular to the direction of motion • If Mavis has a meter stick as shown, what does Stanley think the height is? A. Shorter than 1 m B. 1 m C. Longer than 1 m D. g * 1 m E. Complicated, depends on u 23

Lengths perpendicular to the direction of motion • Very important point: There is no length contraction for lengths perpendicular to the direction of relative motion. Note the lengths of the two meter sticks oriented perpendicular to the length of motion (they are equal). 24

Lengths perpendicular to the direction of motion • Very important point: There is no length contraction for objects perpendicular to the direction of relative motion. S’ is moving along the x axis with respect to S L 0 S’ L 0 sin(θ 0) S L 0 sin(θ 0) θ 0 L 0 cos(θ 0) (L 0/γ)cos(θ 0) Question Is the angle of the meter stick still θ 0 in S ? No in S, it is now tan-1(γsin(θ 0)/ cos(θ 0) More on this in Lorentz transformation section 25

Example of length contraction (or Lorentz contraction) A spaceship flies past earth at 0. 990 c. A crew member on-board measures its length and obtains 400 m. Question: What do observers on earth measure ? A. 32. 7 m B. 56. 3 m C. 74. 4 m D. 400 m 26

Example of length contraction (or Lorentz contraction) A spaceship flies past earth at 0. 990 c. A crew member on-board measures its length and obtains 400 m. Question: What do observers on earth measure ? 27

The Lorentz transformations • Lorentz transformations relate the coordinates and velocities in two inertial reference frames. They are more general than the Galilean transformations and are consistent with the principle of relativity. Galilean transformations. Do not work at relativistic velocities. 28

The Lorentz transformations (“boost along x”) Space and time are intertwined: 4 dimensional “space-time” Note the coordinates perpendicular to the “boost“ are unmodified 29

The Lorentz transformations (“boost along x”) Space and time are intertwined: 4 dimensional “space-time” Caution! Don’t confuse these 2! Time dilation 30

For next time • Relativity continues (37. 6, 37. 7, 37. 8) Ø Read in advance Ø Concepts require wrestling with material 31