Lorentz Transformations vs Galilean Transformation

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 3K views
Kudox117
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


upload_2017-3-12_21-36-0.png


2. The attempt at a solution
upload_2017-3-12_21-38-52.png


3. Relevant equations

In the first problems of that book i was using the Galilean transformations where

V1 = V2 + V

But if i use that then
V1 = 0.945 - 0.6
V1 = 0.345

Is not the same result, so I am confused.
In this new problems we are using Lorentz transformations.
When i should use Galilean transformations and when to use Lorentz transformations?
 
on Phys.org
Lorentz transformations should always yield you the correct answer, but Galilean transformations are typically accurate for speeds much less than the speed of light. One way to think of it is that anytime you are using units in terms of c, you should be working in terms of Lorentz transformations. I'm not aware of an actual official cutoff point, but any typical speeds you're going to find here on Earth you can use Newtonian physics, with the exception of perhaps objects in orbit such as our GPS satellites.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Kudox117
TJGilb said:
...any typical speeds you're going to find here on Earth you can use Newtonian physics,
It depends on how sensitive the phenomenom under investigation is to relativistic effects. For example, even though electrons (usually) move slowly through a current carrying wire, a small amount of length contraction causes significant magnetic field to arise.