Express Velocity in Formula: Find Answer

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter hugo_faurand
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Velocity
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around expressing velocity ##v## in the context of a formula related to time dilation in special relativity, specifically the equation $$t' = \frac{t}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}$$. Participants explore various mathematical manipulations and expressions of ##v##, including attempts to isolate it and express it in terms of the ratio of time intervals.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initially presents an incorrect expression for ##v^2## and seeks assistance in isolating ##v##.
  • Another participant suggests that there may be a sign error in the second equation and requests to see the steps taken to isolate ##v##.
  • Several participants engage in correcting and refining the expressions for ##v##, leading to the formulation $$v = c\sqrt{1-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}}$$.
  • There is a discussion about expressing velocities as a fraction of the speed of light, introducing the variable ##\beta = \frac{v}{c}##.
  • Participants explore the relationship between the derived expressions and the original equation, noting similarities and potential transformations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to correct earlier expressions and refine the formulation of ##v##. However, there are multiple competing views on the correct manipulation of the equations, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the final expression for ##v##.

Contextual Notes

Some expressions and manipulations depend on the definitions of variables and the context of their use, which may not be universally agreed upon. There are unresolved issues regarding the correctness of certain mathematical steps and the implications of sign changes.

hugo_faurand
Messages
62
Reaction score
10
Hello everyone.
This is not an homework but I'd like to express velocity ##v## in this formula :
$$t' = \frac{t}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} $$
I've found
$$ v^2 = -(\frac{t^2}{t'^2}+1)c^2 $$

I'm sure that is wrong but I don't manage to express ##v## and find the correct answer.
Thanks in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The 2nd equation looks to be close, with just one sign error. Can you show the steps you are trying to isolate v in the first equation? :smile:
 
berkeman said:
The 2nd equation looks to be close, with just one sign error. Can you show the steps you are trying to isolate v in the first equation? :smile:

If it's a problem with a sign maybe this is correct :
QSpiUJU.png
 

Attachments

  • QSpiUJU.png
    QSpiUJU.png
    3.2 KB · Views: 916
hugo_faurand said:
If it's a problem with a sign maybe this is correct :
View attachment 227952
Yes, that looks fixed now, good work! What equation editor are you using BTW? :smile:
 
berkeman said:
Yes, that looks fixed now, good work! What equation editor are you using BTW? :smile:
Yes, it works ! So finally we have :
$$v = \sqrt{(-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}+1)c^2}$$
Othewise I use ShareLaTex https://fr.sharelatex.com/ . Sorry, I'm french so it's the french version.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
hugo_faurand said:
I'm french
Congrats on making the World Cup finals! :smile:
 
hugo_faurand said:
Yes, it works ! So finally we have :
$$v = \sqrt{(-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}+1)c^2}$$
Othewise I use ShareLaTex https://fr.sharelatex.com/ . Sorry, I'm french so it's the french version.
Okay. So now you have c2 as a factor under the radical sign. Do you see a way to reduce this down further? And do you see a way of making the other part under the radical look cleaner?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
Janus said:
Okay. So now you have c2 as a factor under the radical sign. Do you see a way to reduce this down further? And do you see a way of making the other part under the radical look cleaner?
In the radical we multiply by c^2 so we can just multiply the square root by c :
$$v = c\sqrt{(-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}+1)}$$
Also, dividing by a number is like multiplying by the inverse. So, I think we can have something like that :
$$v = c\sqrt{-{t^2}{t'^2}+1}$$
 
hugo_faurand said:
In the radical we multiply by c^2 so we can just multiply the square root by c :
Correct (although you'd normally phrase it as "take out a factor of c outside the square root", or something like that).
hugo_faurand said:
$$v = c^2\sqrt{(-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}+1)}$$
So this isn't right.
hugo_faurand said:
Also, dividing by a number is like multiply by the inverse. So, I think we can have something like that :
$$v = c^2\sqrt{-{t^2}{t'^2}+1}$$
Only if you define ##t'=1/t'##, which is a bit confusing. You could define something like ##f'=1/t'##, then use that. It's not a standard usage, though.
 
  • #10
hugo_faurand said:
In the radical we multiply by c^2 so we can just multiply the square root by c :
$$v = c^2\sqrt{(-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}+1)}$$
Also, dividing by a number is like multiply by the inverse. So, I think we can have something like that :
$$v = c^2\sqrt{-{t^2}{t'^2}+1}$$

Ibex already pointed out that there is an error in your first equation.
For the second part, I was thinking more along the lines of what happens when you reverse the order of the terms.
 
  • #11
Janus said:
Ibex already pointed out that there is an error in your first equation.
For the second part, I was thinking more along the lines of what happens when you reverse the order of the terms.

Reverse the order of the terms ? Maybe you mean put +1 before ## -\frac{t^2}{t'^2}##
So we have :
$$ v = c\sqrt{1-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}}$$
 
  • #12
hugo_faurand said:
Reverse the order of the terms ? Maybe you mean put +1 before ## -\frac{t^2}{t'^2}##
So we have :
$$ v = c\sqrt{1-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}}$$
Right, Now consider that at times it is more convenient to work with velocities as expressed as a fraction of c such that ## \beta = \frac{v}{c} ##
so how would you express this equation using ##\beta ## ?
 
  • #13
Janus said:
Right, Now consider that at times it is more convenient to work with velocities as expressed as a fraction of c such that ## \beta = \frac{v}{c} ##
so how would you express this equation using ##\beta ## ?
So we have :
$$ \beta = \sqrt{1-\frac{t^2}{t'^2}}$$
 
  • #14
So does the right hand side of the equation remind you of anything?
 
  • #15
Janus said:
So does the right hand side of the equation remind you of anything?
It looks like what we have in the initial equation :
$$ \sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$$

But we change ##v## and ##c ## .
 
  • #16
hugo_faurand said:
It looks like what we have in the initial equation :
$$ \sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$$

But we change ##v## and ##c ## .
Right, so if we take ## \frac{t^2}{t'^2} ## and express it as ##\left ( \frac{t}{t'} \right )^2##

We get
$$\beta = \sqrt{1- \left ( \frac{t}{t'} \right )^2} $$

and
$$ \frac{t}{t'} = \sqrt{1- \beta^2} $$
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: hugo_faurand

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • · Replies 73 ·
3
Replies
73
Views
6K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 55 ·
2
Replies
55
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K