Minkowski spacetime diagrams, what does the hyperbola represent?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on constructing a Minkowski spacetime diagram to illustrate two events: a farmer firing a laser gun at a cow and the cow dying, as observed from two reference frames (S and S'). The observer S is at rest, while S' moves at 0.5c in the negative x-direction. The participants emphasize the importance of hyperbolae in determining the scale of the ct, x, ct', and x' axes, and clarify that these hyperbolae should pass through both events. The challenge lies in accurately positioning the hyperbolae to represent the transformations between the two frames.

PREREQUISITES
  • Minkowski spacetime concepts
  • Understanding of Lorentz transformations
  • Knowledge of lightlike and timelike intervals
  • Familiarity with the concept of simultaneity in different reference frames
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the construction of Minkowski diagrams in detail
  • Learn about Lorentz transformations and their applications
  • Explore the implications of simultaneity in special relativity
  • Investigate hyperbolic geometry and its relevance to spacetime diagrams
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This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding special relativity and the graphical representation of spacetime events.

knowlewj01
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Homework Statement



Draw a clearly labelled “Minkowski spacetime” diagram illustrating two events
((1) a farmer firing his laser gun at his cow, which is sitting along his positive x-direction, and
(2) the cow dying) as observed by two observers (S at rest in the farmer’s and cow’s frame,
and S’ moving at 0.5 c in the direction of the negative x direction.
Show on the diagram, qualitatively, hyperbolae which determine the scale of the ct, x and
ct’, x’ axes. Using the diagram, is there any frame S’ where it appears that the cow dying
caused the farmer to shoot his gun?

Homework Equations



See attached file for my diagram so far

The Attempt at a Solution



on my diagram you can see the S and S' frames, where S' is moving in the negative x direction with a velocity of 0.5c. I'm aware that the angle between the axes of the two different frames are governed by the velocity of the S' frame. The question asks for hyperbolae which determine the scale, I'm not sure where these should go. The black dot shows the farmer firing the gun and the red dot show the time when the cow dies in each frame, should the hyperbola pass through both of these points?
 

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changed my mind, the gun is a laser so information about the cow's death travels at the speed of light, the dotted line shows lightlike region, the region where the event of the cow's death occurs. The cow is a certain distance from the farmer, so in the S frame the sequence of events happens as in the vertical and horizontal axes. In the S' frame the events appear as in the axes at an angle to S frame. In both frames the events are on the lightlike region. I still cannot see the parts of the diagram to draw the hyperbolae whos tangents bive the x to x' and ct to ct' transformations. Anyone know where to draw the hyperbolae?
 

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