- #1
rhenretta
- 66
- 0
I'm reading Einstein's book on relativity (aptly named Relativity), and trying to follow his "simple" derivation of the Lorentz transformation in Appendix 1. However, since Einstein feels it acceptable to skip over important steps, it leaves me to figure them out, but I am lost on one step...
The relevant equations are as follows (keeping the equation numbers consistent with his)
Eq 5:
[tex]x' = ax - bct[/tex]
[tex]ct' = act - bx[/tex]
Eq 6:
[tex]v=\frac{bc}{a}[/tex]
He claims:
I tried following the steps expressed:
First, substituting t'=0 into (5):
[tex]x' = ax - bct[/tex]
[tex]0 = act - bx[/tex]
Now, to eliminate t, I can only see to do this with equation 6 since
[tex]v = \frac{x}{t}[/tex]
[tex]t = \frac{x}{v}[/tex]
This leaves me with:
[tex]x' = ax - bc\frac{x}{v}[/tex]
[tex]0 = ac\frac{x}{v} - bx[/tex]
It is at this point I am at a loss where to go next to obtain his result.
The relevant equations are as follows (keeping the equation numbers consistent with his)
Eq 5:
[tex]x' = ax - bct[/tex]
[tex]ct' = act - bx[/tex]
Eq 6:
[tex]v=\frac{bc}{a}[/tex]
He claims:
But if the snapshot is taken from K'(t'=0), and if we eliminate t from the equations (5), taking into account the expression (6) we obtain:
[tex]x' = a(1-\frac{v^2}{c^2})x[/tex]
I tried following the steps expressed:
First, substituting t'=0 into (5):
[tex]x' = ax - bct[/tex]
[tex]0 = act - bx[/tex]
Now, to eliminate t, I can only see to do this with equation 6 since
[tex]v = \frac{x}{t}[/tex]
[tex]t = \frac{x}{v}[/tex]
This leaves me with:
[tex]x' = ax - bc\frac{x}{v}[/tex]
[tex]0 = ac\frac{x}{v} - bx[/tex]
It is at this point I am at a loss where to go next to obtain his result.