Confusion between simultanety and time dialation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between simultaneity and time dilation in the context of special relativity. Participants explore how events are perceived in different frames of reference and the implications of Lorentz transformations on the timing and location of these events.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the application of time dilation and simultaneity, questioning whether events that are simultaneous in one frame remain so in another.
  • There is a discussion about the Lorentz transformations and their inclusion of time dilation effects, with some participants suggesting that the transformations already account for these factors.
  • One participant proposes that the time taken for a spacecraft to reach an event's location can be calculated using the time dilation formula, while others challenge this view, suggesting that Lorentz transformations should be used instead.
  • Participants explore the implications of length contraction on simultaneity, with examples involving a train and flashing lights to illustrate how events perceived as simultaneous in one frame may not be in another.
  • Questions arise about causality and whether the occurrence of events in different frames can be reconciled without breaking causal relationships.
  • There is a mention of differing equations for time calculations, with participants seeking clarification on their derivations and applications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach consensus on the application of time dilation versus Lorentz transformations for calculating event timings across frames. Multiple competing views remain regarding the interpretation of simultaneity and the effects of relativistic phenomena.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings of the relationships between time dilation, simultaneity, and length contraction, as well as the specific conditions under which different equations apply. Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and implications of these concepts.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying special relativity, particularly in understanding the nuances of simultaneity and time dilation, as well as the mathematical frameworks used to describe these phenomena.

firavia
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Let events 1 and 2 occur at and in frame S. In frame S' they occur at

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
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https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-4.png
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if this is true than time dilation rule IS no more applicable cause as we know to calculate the location of an event or anything at a certain location in a frame of reference " S' " using the coordinates of the location of this same event in frame "S " we must use the contraction of length law which will give us the exact location of the event in the frame of S' and samely to determien the time using time dilation rule , if an event 1 occur at t = 3 sec according to the clock of frame S this same event will occur at time X s which is calculated using the time dilation method , t= t0 / (radical (1- (v sqaure / c square ) .

and if the 2 events occurred at the same time in the frame of reference S , through the time dilation rule they must occur SIMULTANELY in frame S' but at diferent time of occurrence in frame S .

I'e understood time dilation correclty but now I am confusing , why if we want to calculate the time that a spacecraft reaches a star we do apply the law of time dilation using the time of the arrival of this spacecraft in the frame of another observer , isn't the arrival is considered an event , so why other events are not being calculated using the same law .
 
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firavia said:
Let events 1 and 2 occur at and in frame S. In frame S' they occur at

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-4.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-5.png
[/URL]
OK.

if this is true than time dilation rule IS no more applicable cause as we know to calculate the location of an event or anything at a certain location in a frame of reference " S' " using the coordinates of the location of this same event in frame "S " we must use the contraction of length law which will give us the exact location of the event in the frame of S' and samely to determien the time using time dilation rule , if an event 1 occur at t = 3 sec according to the clock of frame S this same event will occur at time X s which is calculated using the time dilation method , t= t0 / (radical (1- (v sqaure / c square ) .
I don't understand what you're saying here. Your equations above--the Lorentz transformations--already include "time dilation" (and other factors).

and if the 2 events occurred at the same time in the frame of reference S , through the time dilation rule they must occur SIMULTANELY in frame S' but at diferent time of occurrence in frame S .
The "time dilation" rule tells you that a moving clock is observed to run slow. That's distinct from simultaneity.

I'e understood time dilation correclty but now I am confusing , why if we want to calculate the time that a spacecraft reaches a star we do apply the law of time dilation using the time of the arrival of this spacecraft in the frame of another observer , isn't the arrival is considered an event , so why other events are not being calculated using the same law .
Again, it's not clear what you mean. You can certainly think in terms of events and translate their space-time coordinates from one frame to another. To do that one uses the full Lorentz transformations. In special cases you can apply simpler rules such as the time dilation formula. In the case of a spacecraft , which is essentially a moving clock, we can use the time dilation formula.
 
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Those were started by voigt, but I want to know how to derive the time eqn
I think all that firavia wants to know is the difference between the eqns
 
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firavia said:
Let events 1 and 2 occur at and in frame S. In frame S' they occur at

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-4.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-5.png
[/URL]
On second reading, it looks like you mistyped one of the equations. I assume you meant:
[tex] x'_1 = \gamma(x_1 - vt_1)[/tex]
[tex] t'_1 = \gamma(t_1 - vx_1/c^2)[/tex]
[tex] x'_2 = \gamma(x_2 - vt_2)[/tex]
[tex] t'_2 = \gamma(t_2 - vx_2/c^2)[/tex]
 
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vin300 said:
Those were started by voigt,
?
but I want to know how to derive the time eqn
What do you mean? How to derive the time dilation formula from the Lorentz transformations?
 
Can we say that the time needed according to a man inside a spacecraft in order reach the location of an event that might be for example " the flashing light sourse location" is the time calculated through time dilation rule ?

if yes than the time of occurrence of an event is different than the time needed to reach the location of where the event will happen .

so I can conclude that it is due to length contraction 2 events that are occurring simultanesly in one frame cannot occur simultanesly in another frame . is that right .

lets take the example of a train , in the frame of a man standing on a platform the 2 flashings are happenng simultanesly and marking both ends of the train but in the frame of reference of a passenger inside the train the front flash light must happen before the back flashlight cause the location of the flashing sources according to this frame of refference are now closer to each other due to length contraction and the length of the train according to the passenger is now at its proper length , so in order to prevent a paradox and the 2 flash lights mark both ends of the train and due to geometrical changes one flash light msut occur before the other , but the location of each flashlights sources are calculated by the legnth contraction formula using the constants of velocity of the train , celerity and the location L0 of the 2 fflash lights sources seen by the man on the platform ..
what I am trying to say if one event is happening in one frame of reference can its occurrence be calculated in another frame of reference using time dilation formula ?
or laurentz transformation must be used ??


can I say that simultaneity do exist because of length contraction and vice versa ?
what about the causality ? isn't it broken how can 1 action that is causing the flash light to be initiated is being applied in one frame and in another frame that same action is causeing only one of the flash lights to happen ? what is the cause of the other flashlight to occur ?
 
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Somewhere in a previous thread, I had suggested using t=t0*/(gamma) but Jesse said that was wrong and the equation mentioned in firavia's post is to be used.What exactly makes the former different from the latter?
 
firavia said:
Can we say that the time needed according to a man inside a spacecraft in order reach the location of an event that might be for example " the flashing light sourse location" is the time calculated through time dilation rule ?
You need to give a specific example so I can understand what you mean.

if yes than the time of occurrence of an event is different than the time needed to reach the location of where the event will happen .
Again, not sure what you mean.

so I can conclude that it is due to length contraction 2 events that are occurring simultanesly in one frame cannot occur simultanesly in another frame . is that right .
Three distinct relativistic effects work together: length contraction, time dilation, and clock desynchronization.

lets take the example of a train , in the frame of a man standing on a platform the 2 flashings are happenng simultanesly and marking both ends of the train but in the frame of reference of a passenger inside the train the front flash light must happen before the back flashlight cause the location of the flashing sources according to this frame of refference are now closer to each other due to length contraction and the length of the train according to the passenger is now at its proper length , so in order to prevent a paradox and the 2 flash lights mark both ends of the train and due to geometrical changes one flash light msut occur before the other , but the location of each flashlights are calculated by the legnth contraction formula using the constants of velocity of the train , celerity and the location L0 of the 2 fflash lights sources seen by the man on the platform ..
To make sure we understand each other, we need a specific example with lengths and times defined.

can I say that simultaneity do exist because of length contraction and vice versa ?
what about the causality ? isn't it broken how can 1 action that is causing the flash light to be initiated is being applied in one frame and in another frame that same action is causeing only one of the flash lights to happen ? what is the cause of the other flashlight to occur ?
I don't understand how causality comes into this. There are two flashes; one does not cause the other. Whether they happen simultaneously or not depends on the frame of reference.
 
vin300 said:
Somewhere in a previous thread, I had suggested using t=t0*/(gamma)
Not sure what you mean by that equation.
but Jesse said that was wrong and the equation mentioned in firavia's post is to be used.What exactly makes the former different from the latter?
The equations listed in this post are the complete Lorentz transformations. The time dilation formula is a special case that applies to a moving clock (or equivalent). Of course the time dilation formula can be derived from the more general Lorentz transformations.
 
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Looks like gravity of the situation is bending firavia's typetime
I had learned a derivation of time dilation formula(the one with only gamma)What I want to know is how to derive this one
 
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vin300 said:
I had learned a derivation of time dilation formula(the one with only gamma)What I want to know is how to derive this one
You are asking how to derive the Lorentz transformations? Here's a perfectly good discussion of the LT including a derivation: http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/lorentztrans.html"

(Or just check out any relativity text.)
 
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