1.

Action on Screen Audio

2. Relativity of Velocity Greetings students and welcome back to another video on
special relativity. In this lesson, we’re going to discuss the
relativity of velocity, using the equations for the Lorentz
transformations we derived in the previous video.
3. Draw reference frame R and xyz coordinate So let’s recall the Lorentz transformation equations. Suppose I
system (write Time t), draw reference frame R’ have a reference frame R, that I’ll describe using the xyz
above and x’y’z’ coordinate system (write Time coordinate system with a time t. Suppose also that I have
t’). another reference frame R’ which I’ll describe using this primed
coordinate system with time t’.
4. Over R’, make arrow with velocity v. Write ‘R Let’s also say that this reference frame R’ is travelling at a
and R’ line up at t = t’ = 0’ velocity of v in the x-direction relative to the reference frame R.
At time 0, however, these reference frames line up perfectly.
5. Draw event F in reference frame If there’s some event F that occurs at some random time after
On side: time 0, and the spacetime coordinates of F in the reference
If F has coordinates (x,y,z,t) in R and (x’,y’,z’,t’) in frame R are xyzt, while the spacetime coordinates of F in the
R’, then: reference frame R’ are x’y’z’t’, then the primed coordinates are
related to the unprimed coordinates via the Lorentz
transformation equations as follows.
6. x’ = gamma(x-vt) So these Lorentz transformation equations allow us to relate the
y’ = y coordinates between two reference frames travelling at a
z’ = z constant velocity relative to each other. Note that gamma here is
t’ = gamma(t-vx/c^2), where gamma = 1/sqrt(1- (read last RHS).
v^2/c^2)
7. Go back Let’s add a wrinkle to this reference frame problem. Instead of a
Erase F and write P. static event F that occurs at a fixed place and time, we’ll have a
P has coordinates (x,y,z,t) in the reference frame particle P with coordinates (x,y,z,t) in the reference frame R. In
R. addition, instead of staying fixed in the reference frame R, this
Draw velocity vector u next to P particle is actually moving with a velocity vector u.
8. Vector u = [u_x,u_y,u_z], goal is to find u’ = Now this velocity vector u has 3 components, a ux for the x-
[u_x’,u_y’,u_z’] direction, a uy for the y-direction, and a uz for the z-direction.
Our goal is to find the primed components of the velocity of the
particle P: in other words, the velocity components of P in the
primed reference frame R’.
9. In R: So in the reference frame R, let me emphasize: in the reference
x = x0 + u_x*t frame R, not R’, the spacetime location of my particle xyzt is
y = y0 + u_y*t given by the following. The x is (read x RHS), the y is (read y RHS),
z = z0 + u_z*t the z is (read z RHS), and the time t is just t; time doesn’t get
t=t translated or anything in the reference frame R just because the
particle is moving. Note that x0, y0, and z0 represent the initial
position of the particle P in the reference frame R.
10. Assume P started at (x0,y0,z0) = (0,0,0): For our own convenience, we’ll assume that the particle P
x = u_x*t started at 0,0,0. When we do this, these equations above
y = u_y*t simplify to the following. We can make this assumption without
z = u_z*t loss of generality. I could set my origin to be the starting point of
t=t any particle; it doesn’t matter.
11. Substitute into Lorentz transformation Now what we’re going to do is take our coordinates of P and
 equations: substitute them into the Lorentz transformation equations to get
x’ = gamma(u_x*t – vt) the primed coordinates of P in terms of the velocity components
y’ = u_y*t of that particle in the unprimed reference frame. Now our goal is
z’ = u_z*t to find the primed velocities; the velocity components of the
t’ = gamma(t-v*u_x*t/c^2), where gamma = particle P in the primed reference frame.
1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
12. Since R and R’ are lined up at t = t’ = 0, ux’ = Since both reference frames are lined up perfectly at time 0, and
x’/t’, uy’ = y’/t’, uz’ = z’/t’ since the clocks in both reference frames are perfectly
synchronized at time 0, that means the velocity of P in the
primed reference frames is just the corresponding primed
coordinate divided by the time elapsed in the primed reference
frame t’.
13. Isolate t in t’ equation: So if we replace the t in these x’, y’, and z’ equations with t’, we’ll
be able to find the velocity components of P in the primed
t = t’/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) reference frame. In order to do that, let’s now isolate the t and
put it in terms of t’ in the t’ equation. When we do that, here’s
what we get.
14. Plug into x’, y’, z’ equations: If we now plug in this t into the x’y’ and z’ equations, this is what
x’ = gamma(u_x – v) t’/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) we’ll end up with. We’ll cancel the gamma’s in the x’ equation
y’ = u_y* t’/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) and divide all three equations by t’. When we do that, we finally
z’ = u_z* t’/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2), cancel have our primed velocity components in terms of the unprimed
gamma’s in x’, divide by t’: velocity components.
15. ux’ = (u_x – v)/(1-v*u_x/c^2) Once again, note that gamma is calculated in terms of the
uy’ = u_y/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) relative velocity of the reference frames, so gamma is (read last
uz’ = u_z/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) where gamma RHS). So these three equations represent the Lorentz
= 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) transformation of velocity components.
16. ux’ and ux are parallel to v (put arrow above). One thing you’ll notice from these equations is that the velocity
Go up to reference frame drawing and underline component ux’ in the x direction or x’ direction since they’re
v. both the same direction: this x-component of velocity is parallel
to the relative motion of the reference frames v. Remember that
if we go up, R’ is travelling at a velocity v in the x-direction
relative to R, so ux’ and ux are called parallel components.
17. , but uy’, uz’, uy and uz are perpendicular to v In contrast, the y and z components of velocity are the
(put arrow above). perpendicular components. Now the transformation equation of
the parallel components is different from that of the
perpendicular components.
18. u_parallel’ = (u_parallel – v)/(1 – u\dot v/c^2) So the parallel components which I’ll denote using this u with
the parallel subscript transform via this equation, while the
u_perpendicular’ = perpendicular components all transform via this equation.
(u_perpendicular)/gamma*(1 – u\dot v/c^2)
19. gamma = 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) Once again, this gamma is given by the following equation. An
important thing to note from these parallel and perpendicular
If R’ is travelling fast relative to R, particle’s equations is that the faster R’ is travelling relative to R, the more
perpendicular velocity components appear compressed the particle’s perpendicular velocity components
more compressed in R’. appear in R’. So instead of looking like this in the base frame R,
Draw angled velocity of particle in R, draw less the particle looks as though it’s travelling in this direction.
angled velocity of particle in R’.
20. Example: Let’s do a quick example problem involving this velocity
transformation with a simple special relativity question on
relative velocity.
21. Draw trains A and B going to each other with 0.6 Suppose I have two trains; one I’ll call A and the other I’ll call B.
c above them with relevant arrows and signs. Both trains are travelling at a velocity of 0.6*c towards each
other, except A is going in the positive direction and B is going in
Next to example: If the 0.6c’s represent the negative direction. Now if these 0.6c’s are velocities relative
velocities relative to the ground, what is the to the ground, what is the velocity of the train A relative to B?
velocity of the train A relative to B?
22. Classical Mechanics: u_A/B = uA – uB = 1.2 c > c, Now if I were to use the classical mechanics techniques, I would
not possible in special relativity! simply say that the velocity of A relative to B is the velocity of A
minus the velocity of B, which would come out to 1.2 c.
However, in special relativity, this is not possible. The speed of
light is constant in all inertial reference frames; it is not possible
for an observer in train B to perceive an inertial reference frame
travelling faster than light. This is where the velocity
transformation equations come in.
23. On side: ux’ = (u_x – v)/(1-v*u_x/c^2) Let’s write them down or copy-paste them over here. Now I can
uy’ = u_y/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) ignore the y and z equations since everything is going in the x-
uz’ = u_z/gamma*(1-v*u_x/c^2) where gamma direction, so I’ll erase those. I also don’t need the gamma
= 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) because it’s not part of the ux’ equation.
Erase the y, z, and gamma equations.
24. Draw reference frame R below trains, write All that’s left to do is to set up my reference frames and plug
‘stationary’. everything into this equation. I’ll assume my unprimed reference
frame is R, which is just this stationary reference frame
corresponding to the ground. Ideally, for these relative velocity
problems, you want one of your reference frames to be
stationary because it makes things easier. This is especially
necessary because the 0.6c’s represent the velocity relative to
the ground.
25. Since we want velocity relative to B, make R’ the Now since I want to calculate the velocity of A relative to B, I’ll
reference frame of train B. Draw R’ in train B. make my other reference R’ the reference frame of an observer
in train B. I want to find everything relative to B, so I should
probably make one of my reference frames match up with train
B.
26. v = -0.6 c, velocity of B (R’) relative to ground (R) So that means relative to the reference frame R, the velocity of
R’ is v equals -0.6*c. That’s what the v means after all; it’s the
velocity of one reference frame relative to the other.
27. u_x = 0.6 c, velocity of A relative to ground (R) Meanwhile, the velocity u_x of a particle, in this case the train A,
relative to the reference frame R is 0.6 c. And this is all I need for
my relative velocity equation in special relativity.
28. Thus, the velocity ux’ of A relative to R’ (train B) The velocity component ux’, which is the velocity of A relative to
is: the reference frame R’, relative to train B, is then given by this
ux’ = (u_x – v)/(1-v*u_x/c^2) transformation equation.
29. = (0.6 c – (-0.6 c))/(1 – (-0.6c)(0.6c)/c^2) If I plug in the numbers, this is what I get.
30. = 1.2 c/(1 – (-0.36 c^2/c^2)) The numerator is just 1.2 c, while -0.6 times 0.6 is negative 0.36.
31. = 1.2/1.36 c \approx 0.8824 c In the end, after simplifying, we get 1.2/1.36 c, which is 0.8824 c.
32. < 1.2 c, and makes sense in special relativity! This is less than the relative velocity we got from simple classical
mechanics, and it also makes sense in the context of special
relativity.
33. So the take-home message is that we can use these velocity
transformation equations to transform velocity components
between inertial reference frames and also determine relative
velocities in special relativity without violating any rules because
we went above the speed of light.
34. Anyway, that should do it for this lesson. I’d like to thank the
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