lorentz equation confusion

Aziza

I am confused of how to derive the Lorentz equation x = vt+x'/γ...if x' is the distance to an event according to O' and x is the distance to that same event according to O, then shouldnt the last term be x'γ not x'/γ, since x' is already contracted according to O, so to relate it to x, we would need to lengthen x' by the factor γ??

haruspex

A bit hard to answer without seeing the full text of whatever source you're looking at.
Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_contraction. If you find you have the same issue there, please indicate exactly which step bothers you.

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Aziza	lorentz equation confusion Tweet I am confused of how to derive the Lorentz equation x = vt+x'/γ...if x' is the distance to an event according to O' and x is the distance to that same event according to O, then shouldnt the last term be x'γ not x'/γ, since x' is already contracted according to O, so to relate it to x, we would need to lengthen x' by the factor γ??

haruspex Recognitions: Homework Help Science Advisor	A bit hard to answer without seeing the full text of whatever source you're looking at. Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_contraction. If you find you have the same issue there, please indicate exactly which step bothers you.