- 7,298
- 2,811
In my opinion, the physics is clearer with more convenient numerical values (like the ones given by @Nugatory)
The arithmetic easier when one works with pythagorean triples (like 3,4,5). This occurs when the doppler factor k=\sqrt{\frac{1+v}{1-v}} is rational.
For v=3/5, we have k=2 and \gamma=(k+k^{-1})/2=5/4.
For v=4/5, we have k=3 and \gamma=5/3.
(Alternatively, using rapidities
k=\exp(\mbox{arctanh}(3/5))=2 and \gamma=\cosh(\mbox{arctanh}(3/5))=5/4.)
For \gamma=10, we have
k=\exp(\mbox{arccosh}(10))=(10+3\sqrt{11})=irrational and
v=\tanh(\mbox{arccosh}(10))=(3\sqrt{11}/10) =0.9949 with help from WolframAlpha.
Nugatory said:These problems are easier to work with if you choose the speed to be either ##\frac{3}{5}c## or ##\frac{4}{5}c## so that the Lorentz factor comes out a nice round fraction: either ##\frac{5}{4}## or ##\frac{5}{3}##. So let's take the speed to ##\frac{3}{5}c## and the distance traveled to be 15 light-years (it's an example so might as well choose numbers that make the arthmetic easy).
Now the journey will take 25 years according to someone on Earth, and if we use the frame in which the Earth is at rest to assign coordinates to the three relevant events in this example:
Event 1, x=0, t=0: Traveller sets out on journey, both clocks are set to zero
Event 2, x=15,t=25: Traveller arrives at destination
Event 3, x=0, t=25: Clock on Earth reads 25
The arithmetic easier when one works with pythagorean triples (like 3,4,5). This occurs when the doppler factor k=\sqrt{\frac{1+v}{1-v}} is rational.
For v=3/5, we have k=2 and \gamma=(k+k^{-1})/2=5/4.
For v=4/5, we have k=3 and \gamma=5/3.
(Alternatively, using rapidities
k=\exp(\mbox{arctanh}(3/5))=2 and \gamma=\cosh(\mbox{arctanh}(3/5))=5/4.)
For \gamma=10, we have
k=\exp(\mbox{arccosh}(10))=(10+3\sqrt{11})=irrational and
v=\tanh(\mbox{arccosh}(10))=(3\sqrt{11}/10) =0.9949 with help from WolframAlpha.