Derivation of Hyperbolic Representation from Lorentz/Minkowski equations in SR

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the derivation of hyperbolic representations from the Lorentz and Minkowski equations in special relativity. Participants explore the mathematical relationships between algebraic and hyperbolic forms of these equations, including the implications of rapidity and the invariance of the Minkowski metric.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants present the Minkowski equations in both algebraic and hyperbolic forms, noting the invariance of the Minkowski metric.
  • One participant expresses difficulty in transitioning from the algebraic form to the hyperbolic form, seeking clarification on the connections between the two.
  • Another participant attempts to clarify the equations by explicitly including the speed of light, c, in all relevant equations.
  • There is a proposal that points on the hyperbola can be represented by parametric equations involving hyperbolic sine and cosine functions, with some corrections suggested regarding the representation of these equations.
  • One participant expresses confusion regarding a previous post, indicating a lack of understanding of the mathematical details presented.
  • A later reply attempts to break down the mathematical relationships and identities that connect the algebraic and hyperbolic forms, emphasizing the definitions of rapidity and hyperbolic functions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the derivation process from the algebraic to the hyperbolic form. Multiple competing views and levels of understanding are evident, with some participants struggling to grasp the mathematical concepts while others provide detailed explanations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants indicate that their understanding is limited, which may affect their ability to follow the discussion. There are also mentions of potential typos and the need for clarity in the equations presented.

  • #31
Looks good.
 
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  • #32
Thank you Fredrik.

I am saving this below so I can, in the future, write a damn matrix. I took out the quotes so I can see the symbols:

From Fredrik;2678572

\Lambda=\gamma\begin{pmatrix}1 & -v\\ -v & 1\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}\cosh\phi & -\sinh\phi\\ -\sinh\phi & \cosh\phi\end{pmatrix}
**************************************************************

I'm saving this so I can, in the future, write a square root with a long top bar as well as write fractions.

Fredrik;2877945

\text{If }\tanh\phi=v\text{ and }\gamma=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-v^2}}\text{, then }\sinh\phi=\gamma v\text{ and }\cosh\phi=\gamma.[/indent]

\tanh x=\frac{\sinh x}{\cosh x}

\sinh x=\frac{e^x-e^{-x}}{2}

\cosh x=\frac{e^{x}+e^{-x}}{2}
***************************************************************

Let's try it:

<br /> \text{If }\tanh\phi=v\text{ and }\gamma=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-v^2}}\text{, then }\sinh\phi=\gamma v\text{ and }\cosh\phi=\gamma.<br />
***************************************************************
Fredrik-

Would this be proper notation?

\begin{pmatrix}x&#039; \\ t&#039;\end{pmatrix} = \Lambda \begin{pmatrix}x \\ t\end{pmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix}x&#039; \\ t&#039;\end{bmatrix} = \Lambda \begin{bmatrix}x \\ t\end{bmatrix}

Doc
 
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  • #33
To anyone -

Would this be proper notation?

\begin{pmatrix}x&#039; \\ t&#039;\end{pmatrix} = \Lambda \begin{pmatrix}x \\ t\end{pmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix}x&#039; \\ t&#039;\end{bmatrix} = \Lambda \begin{bmatrix}x \\ t\end{bmatrix}

stevmg
 
  • #34
starthaus -

If one takes the Lorentz equatons:

x&#039; = \gamma(x - vt)
t&#039; = \gamma(t - vx) where v really is \beta

and substitutes them into the Minkowski identity

c^2t&#039;^2 - x&#039;^2 = c^2t^2 - x^2

We wind up with an identity (either way) and a hyperbola is suggested

c^2t^2 - x^2 = a^2

This a^2 looks like \tau^2. Is that so? It doesn't make sense that a would be proper time.

You previously stated an equation c^2 d \tau^2 = c^2 dt^2 - dx^2

This is clearly not the same thing.

What does the a^2 represent? Is there anyway of relating it to v and \gamma [/tex]?
 
  • #35
Passionflower:

These two images you posted (post 15) represent hyperbolas.
268761_f520.jpg

271083_f520.jpg


Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/Hyperbolic-Functions[/QUOTE]

In your thinking what do they represent in SR? There's an invariance but how do we use that?

stevmg
 
  • #36
stevmg said:
starthaus -

If one takes the Lorentz equatons:

x&#039; = \gamma(x - vt)
t&#039; = \gamma(t - vx) where v really is \beta

and substitutes them into the Minkowski identity

c^2t&#039;^2 - x&#039;^2 = c^2t^2 - x^2

We wind up with an identity (either way) and a hyperbola is suggested

c^2t^2 - x^2 = a^2

This a^2 looks like \tau^2. Is that so? It doesn't make sense that a would be proper time.

You previously stated an equation c^2 d \tau^2 = c^2 dt^2 - dx^2

This is clearly not the same thing.

What does the a^2 represent? Is there anyway of relating it to v and \gamma [/tex]?
<br /> <br /> I explained all of the above https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php?b=1911 , in my blog, there is a whole chapter dedicated to &quot;accelerated motion in SR&quot;.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #37
stevmg said:
To anyone -

Would this be proper notation?

\begin{pmatrix}x&#039; \\ t&#039;\end{pmatrix} = \Lambda \begin{pmatrix}x \\ t\end{pmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix}x&#039; \\ t&#039;\end{bmatrix} = \Lambda \begin{bmatrix}x \\ t\end{bmatrix}

stevmg
You can write it that way, if your \Lambda is

\begin{pmatrix}-v &amp; 1\\ 1 &amp; -v\end{pmatrix}

but I think most people prefer to have the time coordinate on top (because the coordinates are usually numbered 0,1,2,3, with 0 being the time coordinate), and

\Lambda=\begin{pmatrix}1 &amp; -v\\ -v &amp; 1\end{pmatrix}

It doesn't matter if you use parentheses () or square brackets []. That's just a matter of taste.

stevmg said:
a square root with a long top bar
The "itex" tags don't work as well as they should. Many formulas get their top cut off. For example A^T, \vec V and \sqrt{2} look like this in itex tags: A^T, \vec V and \sqrt{2}. Hm, that "T" looks better than it used to. If you see stuff get cut off when you preview, change the itex tags to tex tags, and consider putting the math expression on a line of its own, like this:

E=mc^2[/itex]<br /> <br /> Then continue the text below.
 
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  • #38
Many thanks, Fredrik

?\Lambda= \gamma \begin{pmatrix}1 &amp; -v\\ -v &amp; 1\end{pmatrix} ?

stevmg
 
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  • #39
Thanks starthaus -

I had previously downloaded that "Accelerated Motion in SR - II.pdf" file and printed it and now that I have had a better opportunity to understand the mechanics of hyperbolic transformations, I will have a better chance at digesting it.

One doesn't learn this stuff overnight.
 
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  • #40
stevmg said:
Many thanks, Fredrik

?\Lambda= \gamma \begin{pmatrix}1 &amp; -v\\ -v &amp; 1\end{pmatrix} ?

stevmg
Yes, I forgot the gamma.
 
  • #41
stevmg said:
In your thinking what do they represent in SR? There's an invariance but how do we use that?
Well here is where it all starts:
256px-Funhipgeom.png

Think how an Euclidean space compares to a Minkowski space. Think: "circle becomes hyperbola".

Some more pictures that perhaps can help you (see pages 13, 14 and 15)
http://www.visualrelativity.com/papers/Salgado-GRposter.pdf
 
  • #42
Passionflower -

I downloaded that .pdf file and it is one of the most concise, descriptive and a propo descriptives I have seen.

They mention a series of articles. Were there more?

Many, many thanks,

stevmg
 
  • #43
Doc has expressed an interest in how the hyperbolic representation of SR relates to a purely trigonometric representation.

In the attached drawing, the following relations are illustrated on the chart on the right with the circular plots:sin(\theta) = \Delta x / \Delta y = v
cos(\theta) = 1 / \gamma
sec(\theta) = \gamma
tan(\theta) = \Delta x / \Delta \tau = v\gamma = w

where w is the proper velocity or celerity.

These can be compared to the analogous hyperbolic representations:

tanh(U) = v
cosh(U) = \gamma
sinh(U) = w

where U is twice the area shaded in yellow on the hyperbolic chart on the left and this area is proportional to the rapidity.

The slope of the brown diagonal line in the hyperbolic chart on the left is equal to the ordinary velocity, while the slope of the diagonal line in the trigonometric chart on the right, is equal to the proper velocity.

While constructing these charts I noticed the following interesting analogue between the hypotenuse in trigonometry and a quantity I will call simply hyph in hyperbolic geometry.

In trigonometry, the length of the hypotenuse is defined as:

\sqrt{adj^2 + opp^2}

In hyperbolic geometry, the analogous hyph is here defined as:

\sqrt{adj^2 - opp^2}

with the limitation that for real quantities, adj>opp.

Hyph is then where a hyperbolic curve passing through the point (x,y) = (adj,opp) intercepts the x axis, or equivalently where hyperbolic curve passing through the point (x,y) = (opp,adj) intercepts the y axis.

With the above definition, the hyperbolic functions can be represented by:

sinh(U) = \frac{opp}{hyph}

cosh(U) = \frac{adj}{hyph}

tanh(U) = \frac{opp}{adj}

which are obviously analogous to the trigometric functions:

sin(\phi) = \frac{opp}{hyp}

cosh(\phi) = \frac{adj}{hyp}

tanh(\phi) = \frac{opp}{adj}

The above relationship between hyph and hyp is illustrated in the second attached diagram.
 

Attachments

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    trigSR.jpg
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    hyph.gif
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  • #44
yuiop said:
Doc has expressed an interest in how the hyperbolic representation of SR relates to a purely trigonometric representation.

In the attached drawing, the following relations are illustrated on the chart on the right with the circular plots:


sin(\theta) = \Delta x / \Delta y = v
cos(\theta) = 1 / \gamma
sec(\theta) = \gamma
tan(\theta) = \Delta x / \Delta \tau = v\gamma = w

where w is the proper velocity or celerity.

These can be compared to the analogous hyperbolic representations:

tanh(U) = v
cosh(U) = \gamma
sinh(U) = w

where U is twice the area shaded in yellow on the hyperbolic chart on the left and this area is proportional to the rapidity.

The slope of the brown diagonal line in the hyperbolic chart on the left is equal to the ordinary velocity, while the slope of the diagonal line in the trigonometric chart on the right, is equal to the proper velocity.

While constructing these charts I noticed the following interesting analogue between the hypotenuse in trigonometry and a quantity I will call simply hyph in hyperbolic geometry.

In trigonometry, the length of the hypotenuse is defined as:

\sqrt{adj^2 + opp^2}

In hyperbolic geometry, the analogous hyph is here defined as:

\sqrt{adj^2 - opp^2}

with the limitation that for real quantities, adj>opp.

Hyph is then where a hyperbolic curve passing through the point (x,y) = (adj,opp) intercepts the x axis, or equivalently where hyperbolic curve passing through the point (x,y) = (opp,adj) intercepts the y axis.

With the above definition, the hyperbolic functions can be represented by:

sinh(U) = \frac{opp}{hyph}

cosh(U) = \frac{adj}{hyph}

tanh(U) = \frac{opp}{adj}

which are obviously analogous to the trigometric functions:

sin(\phi) = \frac{opp}{hyp}

cosh(\phi) = \frac{adj}{hyp}

tanh(\phi) = \frac{opp}{adj}

The above relationship between hyph and hyp is illustrated in the second attached diagram.

Beautiful, ------- beautiful! Now that's what I have been looking for.
 

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