Lorentz Transformations: 2 Formulas for Time (t)

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the distinction between two formulas for time in the context of Lorentz transformations. The first formula, T = T_0 * (1 / √(1 - v²/c²)), represents time dilation for an object at rest (x' = 0) and is not a Lorentz transformation. The second formula, t = (t' + vx'/c²) * (1 / √(1 - v²/c²)), is the Lorentz transformation for the time coordinate, which calculates the time observed in a stationary frame based on the time from a moving frame. Understanding these formulas is crucial for grasping the implications of special relativity.

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Depending on where I go to get a good understanding of the Lorentz transformations, I run into two formulas for time (t):

[tex]T=T_0 * \frac{1}{ \sqrt{ 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2} } }[/tex]
and
[tex]t=\left( t' + \frac{vx'}{c^2} \right) * \frac{1}{ \sqrt{ 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2} } }[/tex]

What is the explanation for having these two different formulas for time? If there was only one or the other, it would make sense to me but I can't understand how there can be two.
 
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len said:
Depending on where I go to get a good understanding of the Lorentz transformations, I run into two formulas for time (t):

[tex]T=T_0 * \frac{1}{ \sqrt{ 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2} } }[/tex]
and
[tex]t=\left( t' + \frac{vx'}{c^2} \right) * \frac{1}{ \sqrt{ 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2} } }[/tex]

What is the explanation for having these two different formulas for time? If there was only one or the other, it would make sense to me but I can't understand how there can be two.
The first one is what you get when x'=0, in other words, for an object that is at rest at x'=0.
 
len said:
Depending on where I go to get a good understanding of the Lorentz transformations, I run into two formulas for time (t):

[tex]T=T_0 * \frac{1}{ \sqrt{ 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2} } }[/tex]
and
[tex]t=\left( t' + \frac{vx'}{c^2} \right) * \frac{1}{ \sqrt{ 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2} } }[/tex]

What is the explanation for having these two different formulas for time? If there was only one or the other, it would make sense to me but I can't understand how there can be two.

The second formula is the Lorentz transformation for the ##t## coordinate. It tells you how to calculate what time will appear on a clock in the unprimed frame when a clock in the primed frame reads a particular value.

The first formula is not a Lorentz transformation at all. It's the timedilation formula that tells you how how much time will have passed in the moving frame if a given amount of time has passed in the non-moving frame.
 

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