Have You Seen this Transformation Equation Before?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a transformation equation for force experienced by a particle moving in different reference frames, particularly in the context of special relativity. Participants explore the derivation of this equation and its relation to established texts and theories, including electromagnetic forces and three-vector formalism.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a transformation equation for force in a new frame and claims to have derived it independently, relating it to electromagnetic forces and noting its absence in standard texts.
  • Another participant references a simpler formula for force transformation from a specific arXiv paper, suggesting an alternative approach for the case when velocity is zero.
  • A participant compares the presented equation with content from Moller's 1952 text, indicating a potential source for similar equations.
  • There is an expression of frustration regarding the quality of the referenced text, highlighting challenges in accessing reliable sources.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the standardization or recognition of the presented transformation equation. Multiple viewpoints are expressed regarding its derivation and relation to existing literature.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the differences in approaches to deriving force transformations, with some emphasizing the uniqueness of the three-vector formalism compared to traditional tensor methods. There is also mention of the quality of source materials affecting the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying special relativity, force transformations, or the relationship between classical mechanics and electromagnetic theory.

jostpuur
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Consider a following problem. A particle is moving with a velocity [itex]\boldsymbol{v}[/itex], and is experiencing a force [itex]\boldsymbol{F}[/itex]. By the force I mean time rate change of the momentum. If we boost into a different frame, which is moving with a velocity [itex]\boldsymbol{u}[/itex] in the original frame, then what is the force that this particle experiences in this new frame?

A correct answer, I believe, is
[tex] \boldsymbol{F}' = \frac{\boldsymbol{F}\sqrt{1-|u|^2/c^2} - \boldsymbol{F}\cdot(\boldsymbol{v}/c^2 - (1-\sqrt{1-|u|^2/c^2})\boldsymbol{u} / |u|^2)\boldsymbol{u}}{1-\boldsymbol{v}\cdot\boldsymbol{u}/c^2}[/tex]

My question to you is, that have you seen this equation anywhere?

I have not, except in my own notes. I derived this myself, and used it to derive an expression of an electromagnetic force that one moving particle exerts on another one, so that the result agreed (in the special case of no acceleration) with the one that is usually obtained using retarted potentials (the Green's function stuff and the Lienard-Wiechert potentials). So I believe I made no mistake in this.

My derivation went through first solving transformations of location, velocity and momentum in a similar three-vector formalism, which to my understanding doesn't seem to be very popular. Usually texts about relativity always proceed straight into the tensor formalism after the first basic equations (dilation and contraction stuff).

This is related to an earlier post of mine in the thread https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=175438

pervect, since the underlying principles in this calculation are quite different than those in the potential approach, which is actually based on finding solutions of some PDE (Maxwell's equations) instead of transforming a time derivative of momentum, I'm not yet fully convinced that this was a perfectly standard calculation. Or maybe it was? I don't know. That's why I'm asking about this :smile:
 
Last edited:
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A simpler formula for the transformation of "force" (if defined as dp/dt)
is given in arXiv:physics/0603110 for the case v=0.
 
Last edited:
robphy said:
Compare with (roughly) p.73 of Moller's 1952 text
http://www.archive.org/details/theoryofrelativi029229mbp

Very nice robphy! I wish I had had this source when I was accused of coming up with my "own theories", when I was deriving these three-vector equations. How unfortunate, that the pdf seems to be of horrible quality :frown:
 

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