Derivation of Proper Time and Proper Space

In summary, the formula for the proper time is derived from the two equations of the Lorentz Transformation by assuming that Delta x' = 0, which means that the two events being measured occur at the same location in the inertial frame. This allows us to arrive at the formula tau = t * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2), where tau represents the time interval. Similarly, the formula for the proper space (proper length) is derived by assuming that Delta t' = 0, which means that the two events being measured occur at the same time in the inertial frame. This results in the formula sigma = x * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2), where sigma represents the space interval along
  • #1
AdVen
71
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I have tried to derive the formula for the proper time from the two equations of the Lorentz Transformation. The formula is as follows (see Wikipedia: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eigentijd): [Broken]

tau = t*sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

The two equations of the Lorentz Transformation are as follows (see Wikipedia):

x '= x / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) - v*t / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) (1)

and

t '= - ((v*x) / c**2) / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)) + t / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) (2)

Now x 'and t' represent points. x' represents a location (point in space) and t' is a time (point in time). One may write the two equations of the Lorentz Transformation for intervals as follows:

Delta x ' = Delta x / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) - v * Delta t / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) (3)

and

Delta t '= - ((v * Delta x) / c**2) / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)) + Delta t / sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) (4)

We derive the formula for proper time by assuming, that Delta x '= 0. This is the case when Delta x = v * Delta t. Substituting this into formula (4) we obtain:

Delta t '= Delta t * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

or

tau = t * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

Note, that tau refers to a time interval.

---------------------------------------

Completely analogous to the derivation of the formula for the proper time, I derived the formula for the proper space (proper length). The formula is as follows (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proper_length): [Broken]

sigma = x * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) .

We derive the formula for proper space by assuming, that Delta t '= 0. This is the case when Delta t = (v * Delta x) / c**2. Substituting this into formula (3) we obtain:

Delta x '= Delta x * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

or

sigma = x * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

Note, that sigma refers to a space interval (one dimensional).

---------------------------------------

My question is: Are these derivations correct?
 
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  • #2
Is there anybody who might want to answer my question?
 
  • #3
I noticed that you kept the meaning of sigma and tau deliberately vague. As in sigma is a space interval and tau is a time interval. You need to arrive at a result where proper length and coordinate length and proper time and coordinate time are related to each other. For example your conclusion for proper length is: a space interval is equal to a different space interval times some factor, but there is no mention of proper length anywhere. Now my question is what is the proper length in that result?
 
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  • #4
Cyosis said:
I noticed that you kept the meaning of sigma and tau deliberately vague. As in sigma is a space interval and tau is a time interval. You need to arrive at a result where proper length and coordinate length and proper time and coordinate time are related to each other. For example your conclusion for proper length is: a space interval is equal to a different space interval times some factor, but there is no mention of proper length anywhere. Now my question is what is the proper length in that result?

Proper length:

Delta x' = Delta x * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

or

L' = L * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)

with L = Delta x and L' = Delta x'.

Proper space (along the x-axis only):

sigma = x' = x * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2) .

Note, that sigma, x and x' can be negative, whereas L and L' cannot.

I hope this answers your question.
 
  • #5
It does I think. You're saying that sigma is the proper length as I suspected. When you look at your formula it says that sigma is always smaller than x. Which is wrong, because the proper length is the longest length of the object.

I am short on time I will elaborate further later.
 
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  • #6
Cyosis said:
It does I think. You're saying that sigma is the proper length. When you look at your formula it says that sigma is always smaller than x. Which is wrong, because the proper length is the longest length of the object.

I am short on time I will elaborate further later.

A moving ruler (measuring stick) is observed shorter in the direction of the movement!

Might this be of any help?
 
  • #7
A moving ruler (measuring stick) is observed shorter in the direction of the movement!

Might this be of any help?

Yes this is correct. However your derived equation, given that sigma is the proper length, says the opposite.
 
  • #8
We are doing relativity here which makes it very important that you are very clear on what your formulae and notations mean. You also need to be clear on the different type of reference frames. Your derivation exists of writing down the Lorentz transformations then doing some algebraic manipulations. But you never really say what you're doing.

We derive the formula for proper time by assuming, that Delta x '= 0.

First of all this is not an assumption. Proper time has a very clear definition. Proper time is the time between two events in the inertial frame where these events happen at the same location.

Let us investigate an inertial frame [itex]S[/itex] with coordinates [itex](x,t)[/itex] and an inertial frame [itex]S'[/itex] with coordinates [itex](x',t')[/itex], which are moving relative to each other with a speed [itex]v[/itex]. If we measure an event at the coordinates [itex](x_1',t_1')[/itex] and a second event at [itex](x_1', t_2')[/itex] in frame [itex]S'[/itex] then the proper time is [itex]\Delta t'=t_2'-t_1'[/itex], because the two events happened at the same position in frame [itex]S'[/itex]. Due to relativity of simultaneity these two events will happen at [itex]x_1[/itex] and [itex]x_2[/itex], with [itex]x_1 \neq x_2[/itex] in frame [itex]S[/itex].

Now if we measure the time between an event with coordinates [itex](x_1,t_1)[/itex] and an event with coordinates [itex](x_1,t_2)[/itex] in frame [itex]S[/itex] then [itex]\Delta t =t_2-t_1[/itex] would be the proper time. As it should be otherwise there would be some absolute inertial frame which goes directly against relativity.

We derive the formula for proper space by assuming, that Delta t '= 0.

Again there is no assumption in the definition of proper length. The idea is similar to that of proper time.

Consider two inertial frames again, namely S and S', which are again moving at a speed v relative to each other. Now let us place a rigid object, with length [itex]\Delta x'[/itex] in S' along the x'-axis, which is at rest in S'. Here [itex] \Delta x' [/itex] is the proper length. We want to find its length in frame S. To measure its length we will need to mark its end points simultaneously in S. We call these markings events and in frame S these events happen at the same time. Therefore we can set [itex]\Delta t=0[/itex]. If you carry out the derivation correctly you will find that [itex]\Delta x'>\Delta x[/itex].

What you have done is mix frames. You mark the endpoints simultaneously in frame [itex] S'[/itex] and therefore set [itex] \Delta t'=0 [/itex]. So far so good. You then calculate [itex]\Delta x' [/itex] and call this the proper length. This is wrong because [itex] S [/itex] is the object's rest frame.
 
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  • #9
Cyosis said:
Let us investigate an inertial frame [itex]S[/itex] with coordinates [itex](x,t)[/itex] and an inertial frame [itex]S'[/itex] with coordinates [itex](x',t')[/itex], which are moving relative to each other with a speed [itex]v[/itex]. If we measure an event at the coordinates [itex](x_1',t_1')[/itex] and a second event at [itex](x_1', t_2')[/itex] in frame [itex]S'[/itex] then the proper time is [itex]\Delta t'=t_2'-t_1'[/itex], because the two events happened at the same position in frame [itex]S'[/itex].

I suppose [itex]t_1' < t_2'[/itex]?
 
  • #10
Cyosis said:
Let us investigate an inertial frame [itex]S[/itex] with coordinates [itex](x,t)[/itex] and an inertial frame [itex]S'[/itex] with coordinates [itex](x',t')[/itex], which are moving relative to each other with a speed [itex]v[/itex].

I suppose [itex]S'[/itex] is moving with velocity [itex]v[/itex] with respect to [itex]S[/itex] or measured from [itex]S[/itex]?
 
  • #11
Cyosis said:
Now if we measure the time between an event with coordinates [itex](x_1,t_1)[/itex] and an event with coordinates [itex](x_1,t_2)[/itex] in frame [itex]S[/itex] then [itex]\Delta t =t_2-t_1[/itex] would be the proper time.

I suppose [itex]t_1 < t_2[/itex]?
 
  • #12
Sure, although it doesn't really matter as long as one precedes the other in all inertial frames.
 
  • #13
To Cyosis

Your exposition is very clear. Thank you.
 
  • #14
Cyosis said:
If we measure an event at the coordinates [itex](x_1',t_1')[/itex] and a second event at [itex](x_1', t_2')[/itex] in frame [itex]S'[/itex] then the proper time is [itex]\Delta t'=t_2'-t_1'[/itex], because the two events happened at the same position in frame [itex]S'[/itex].

It looks to me, that this definition of proper time implies, that [itex]\Delta x' = 0[/itex]. This is exactly what I did in deriving

Delta t '= Delta t * sqrt (1 - v**2/c**2)
 
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  • #15
Yes your conclusion about proper time was correct, but not about proper length.
 
  • #16
Cyosis said:
Proper time has a very clear definition. Proper time is the time between two events in the inertial frame where these events happen at the same location.

The proper time between two events depends on the path taken between these events. Your definition is OK for an inertial path. All ideal clocks, whatever their motion, measure proper along their own worldlines, and its value is frame invariant, unlike coordinate time. In the inertial frame in which a clock is at rest, its worldline coincides with the time axis of that frame and so in this case, your scenario, proper time is equal to coordinate time.

Matheinste.
 
  • #18
kev said:
Hi Adven. This thread here https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=393523 might be helpful to you. It is on a very similar topic.

Hi Kev,

I looked into it and it looks very interesting. I am going to study it in more detail. They seemed to follow the same approach as I did.

Thanks a lot for your information.
 

1. What is the concept of proper time and proper space?

The concept of proper time and proper space is used in the theory of relativity to describe the measurements of time and space that are made by an observer who is at rest relative to the system being observed. Proper time is the time interval measured by a clock that is at rest relative to the observer, while proper space is the distance measured by a ruler that is at rest relative to the observer.

2. How are proper time and proper space related?

Proper time and proper space are related through the spacetime interval, which is a measure of the distance between two events in spacetime. The spacetime interval is equal to the square root of the difference between the squared proper time and the squared proper space.

3. What is the equation for proper time and proper space?

The equation for proper time and proper space is given by t^2 - x^2 = T^2 - X^2, where t is the time interval measured by a clock, x is the distance measured by a ruler, T is the proper time, and X is the proper space.

4. How does the concept of proper time and proper space apply to the theory of relativity?

In the theory of relativity, proper time and proper space are used to describe the measurements made by an observer who is at rest relative to the system being observed. This concept is important in understanding the effects of time dilation and length contraction, which occur when objects are moving at high speeds relative to each other.

5. Can proper time and proper space be measured in the same units?

Yes, proper time and proper space can be measured in the same units, such as seconds or meters. This is because they are both measurements of time and space made by an observer at rest relative to the system being observed. However, the values of proper time and proper space may be different for observers in different reference frames, due to the effects of relativity.

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