Modern Physics - Invariability of Newton's 2nd Law under a GT?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around demonstrating the invariance of Newton's Second Law under Galilean Transformations (GT) in one, two, and three dimensions. The original poster attempts to understand how to approach the problem, particularly for the higher-dimensional cases, while providing the relevant equations for each transformation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the 1-D case, with one suggesting a method to show that acceleration remains invariant under the transformation. The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to extend this reasoning to the 2-D and 3-D cases, indicating a need for clarification on handling additional variables.

Discussion Status

Some participants are actively engaging with the 1-D case, while the original poster seeks further assistance for the more complex dimensions. There is no explicit consensus yet, but the discussion is ongoing with attempts to clarify the approach.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes a lack of clarity on how to manage the extra variables in the 2-D and 3-D transformations, which may affect their ability to demonstrate the invariance of Newton's Second Law in those contexts.

PFStudent
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Homework Statement


Show that the form of Newton's Second Law is invariant under:
(a). a Galilean Transformation (GT) in 1-Dimension.
(b). a Galilean Transformation (GT) in 2-Dimensions.
(c). a Galilean Transformation (GT) in 3-Dimensions.

Homework Equations


Newton's Second Law.
<br /> {{\sum_{}^{}}{\vec{F}}} = {m{\vec{a}}}{\,}{\,}{\text{[N.II.L.]}}<br />

GT for 1-D
<br /> {{x}^{\prime}} = {{x}-{vt}}<br />

<br /> {{y}^{\prime}} = {y}<br />

<br /> {{z}^{\prime}} = {z}<br />

<br /> {{t}^{\prime}} = {t}<br />

GT for 2-D
<br /> {{x}^{\prime}} = {{x}-{{v}{\left({\frac{x}{\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}}}}\right)}{t}}}<br />
<br /> {{y}^{\prime}} = {{y}-{{v}{\left({\frac{y}{\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}}}}\right)}{t}}}<br />
<br /> {{z}^{\prime}} = {z}<br />

<br /> {{t}^{\prime}} = {t}<br />

GT for 3-D
<br /> {{x}^{\prime}} = {{x}-{{v}{\left({\frac{x}{\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}+{z^2}}}}\right)}{t}}}<br />
<br /> {{y}^{\prime}} = {{y}-{{v}{\left({\frac{y}{\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}+{z^2}}}}\right)}{t}}}<br />
<br /> {{z}^{\prime}} = {{z}-{{v}{\left({\frac{z}{\sqrt{{x^2}+{y^2}+{z^2}}}}\right)}{t}}}<br />
<br /> {{t}^{\prime}} = {t}<br />

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not sure exactly where to begin here. Particularly, how to proceed in the: 2-D and 3-D; cases since I have extra variables to deal with in those GT equations.

Thanks,

-PFStudent
 
Last edited:
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How would you proceed in the 1-D case?
 
Hey,
Gokul43201 said:
How would you proceed in the 1-D case?
Well, in the 1-D case we are only considering motion along one axis, where {\vec{v}} is a constant, hence the following Galilean Transformation,
<br /> {{x}^{\prime}} = {{x}-{vt}}<br />

<br /> {{y}^{\prime}} = {y}<br />

<br /> {{z}^{\prime}} = {z}<br />

<br /> {{t}^{\prime}} = {t}<br />

So, my guess is that by beginning with the following,
<br /> {{x}^{\prime}} = {{x}-{vt}}<br />

I can proceed as follows,
<br /> {{x}^{\prime}} = {{x}-{vt}}<br />

<br /> {{\frac{d}{dt}}{\Bigl[{{x}^{\prime}}\Bigr]}} = {{\frac{d}{dt}}{\Bigl[{{x}-{vt}}\Bigr]}}<br />

<br /> {{\frac{d{{x}^{\prime}}}{dt}}} = {{\frac{dx}{dt}}-{v}}<br />

<br /> {{\frac{d}{dt}}{\left[{\frac{d{{x}^{\prime}}}{dt}}\right]}} = {{\frac{d}{dt}}{\left[{{\frac{dx}{dt}}-{v}}\right]}}<br />

<br /> {\frac{{{d}^{2}}{{x}^{\prime}}}{d{{t}^{2}}}} = {{\frac{{{d}^{2}}{x}}{d{{t}^{2}}}}-{0}}<br />

<br /> {\left({{a}^{\prime}}\right)} = {\left({a}\right)}<br />

<br /> {{a}^{\prime}} = {a}<br />

So, I guess by showing that,
<br /> {{a}^{\prime}} = {a}<br />
this implies that N.II.L. is invariant under a (1-D) Galilean Transformation? If so, why?

Thanks,

-PFStudent
 
Last edited:
Hey,

Any help on this, still not sure if I'm on the right path here.

Thanks,

-PFStudent
 

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