On time dilation and length contraction

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the concepts of time dilation and length contraction in the context of physics, particularly in relation to manifolds and calculus. Participants explore the mathematical formulations of time as a function of spatial coordinates, including derivatives and integrals. The conversation also addresses the invariance of proper time across different observers and the implications of changing coordinate systems on time dilation measurements. Key formulas discussed include the relationship between coordinate time and proper time, as well as the effects of gravitational potential on time dilation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity concepts, particularly time dilation and length contraction
  • Familiarity with calculus, including derivatives and integrals
  • Knowledge of manifold theory and its application in physics
  • Basic grasp of tensor algebra and tensor calculus
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of time dilation using the formula $$c^2 d\tau^2=c^2 dt^2 - dx^2 - dy^2 - dz^2$$
  • Explore the implications of gravitational time dilation in different gravitational potentials
  • Learn about the relationship between coordinate systems and physical measurements in relativity
  • Investigate the mathematical representation of length contraction and its effects on moving objects
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of general relativity, mathematicians interested in calculus applications in physics, and anyone seeking to understand the implications of time dilation and length contraction in various contexts.

trees and plants
Hello there.About time dilation, could we provide a derivative of time in relation to one of the coordinates of the manifold we have taking time as a function and get something as a result?Or its integral?And about time dilation we have the formula that gives it between two clocks and an observer measuring the clocks so what gravitational potential is needed for the time to change constantly at a specific rate like at a fixed rate?Could someone also help me about how to write math formulas in posts?Thank you.Now, about length contraction could we somehow make perhaps with calculus of moving manifolds about deforming manifolds a way or some formulas to measure how the objects are deformed from length contraction?Thank you.
 
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universe function said:
Hello there.About time dilation, could we provide a derivative of time in relation to one of the coordinates of the manifold we have taking time as a function and get something as a result?Or its integral?And about time dilation we have the formula that gives it between two clocks and an observer measuring the clocks so what gravitational potential is needed for the time to change constantly at a specific rate like at a fixed rate?Could someone also help me about how to write math formulas in posts?Thank you.Now, about length contraction could we somehow make perhaps with calculus of moving manifolds about deforming manifolds a way or some formulas to measure how the objects are deformed from length contraction?Thank you.
I am having great difficulty extracting any useful meaning from anything above except the bit about math formulas.

https://www.physicsforums.com/help/latexhelp/
 
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jbriggs444 said:
I am having great difficulty extracting any useful meaning from anything above except the bit about math formulas.

https://www.physicsforums.com/help/latexhelp/
What I want to say is if time is not only a coordinate but a function, could we take its derivative in relation to one of its spatial coordinates or its integral?And the other about length contraction is if we have a point moving on the object that has the length contraction what parts of the object are deformed and in what way, could we with the help of point moving on the object describe its deformation?Thank you.
 
universe function said:
What I want to say is if time is not only a coordinate but a function, could we take its derivative in relation to one of its spatial coordinates or its integral?And the other about length contraction is if we have a point moving on the object that has the length contraction what parts of the object are deformed and in what way, could we with the help of point moving on the object describe its deformation?Thank you.
Has this text gone through a translation engine?
 
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PeroK said:
Has this text gone through a translation engine?
No, my friend.It hasn't.
 
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universe function said:
No, my friend.It hasn't.
Well, I'm sorry to say, it doesn't make any sense.
 
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PeroK said:
Well, I'm sorry to say, it doesn't make any sense.
I think I used the correct words.What parts of it do
not make sense?I am sorry.
 
universe function said:
I think I used the correct words.What parts of it do
not make sense?I am sorry.
I can't understand anything about either of your posts in this thread. I understand literally nothing of what you are trying to ask.
 
Could time be a function?Is the length contraction the same to all objects?Does it vary?
 
  • #10
universe function said:
Could time be a function?
A function of what? What do you mean by time? A timelike coordinate? Then it is a function, just like any other coordinate. It maps points of the manifold to real numbers.
 
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  • #11
martinbn said:
A function of what? What do you mean by time? A timelike coordinate? Then it is a function, just like any other coordinate. It maps points of the manifold to real numbers.
A function that contains in its formula the three spatial coordinates, like t(x,y,z)=x2+y2+z2.
 
  • #12
universe function said:
What I want to say is if time is not only a coordinate but a function, could we take its derivative in relation to one of its spatial coordinates or its integral?
Yes. The easy way to derive time dilation is as follows:
$$c^2 d\tau^2=c^2 dt^2 - dx^2 - dy^2 - dz^2$$ $$\frac{d\tau^2}{dt^2}=1-\frac{dx^2}{c^2 dt^2}-\frac{dy^2}{c^2 dt^2}-\frac{dz^2}{c^2 dt^2}$$ $$\frac{1}{\gamma}=\frac{d\tau}{dt}=\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$$
 
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  • #13
Dale said:
Yes. The easy way to derive time dilation is as follows:
$$c^2 d\tau^2=c^2 dt^2 - dx^2 - dy^2 - dz^2$$ $$\frac{d\tau^2}{dt^2}=1-\frac{dx^2}{c^2 dt^2}-\frac{dy^2}{c^2 dt^2}-\frac{dz^2}{c^2 dt^2}$$ $$\frac{1}{\gamma}=\frac{d\tau}{dt}=\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$$
Thank you.To take its first derivative, we integrate the second equation with respect to t and to have the integral of t, we integrate the the second equation three times?What about having time as function and its derivatives as a partial differential equation and then try to solve it?
 
  • #14
universe function said:
To take its first derivative, we integrate
No. The integral is an anti-derivative

universe function said:
What about having time as function and its derivatives as a partial differential equation and then try to solve it?
It seems already solved. What do you think is unsolved?
 
  • #15
universe function said:
A function that contains in its formula the three spatial coordinates, like t(x,y,z)=x2+y2+z2.
Then, no.
 
  • #16
Dale said:
No. The integral is an anti-derivative

It seems already solved. What do you think is unsolved?
I mean because the second derivative of t is given by the second equation in your post, then we could integrate the equation I think.
 
  • #17
universe function said:
I mean because the second derivative of t is given by the second equation in your post, then we could integrate the equation I think.
That is a square not second derivative.
 
  • #18
We have the differential of t but to have t only we integrate I think.Sorry for talking about it too much I think.I am sorry.But about the length contraction there is the formula so I think I get the answer about it.
 
  • #19
martinbn said:
That is a square not second derivative.
You are right, it is.It is the differential squared.Another question about time dilation is every external observer measures time dilation as the same?If there are two,three or n external observers I mean.
 
  • #20
universe function said:
I mean because the second derivative of t is given by the second equation in your post, then we could integrate the equation I think.
No, that is not the second derivative. It is the first derivative squared. A second derivative would be written $$\ddot y(x)=\frac{d^2 y}{dx^2}$$ as opposed to what was written here $$(\dot y(x))^2=\frac{dy^2}{dx^2}$$
 
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  • #21
universe function said:
Another question about time dilation is every external observer measures time dilation as the same?If there are two,three or n external observers I mean.
Time dilation is a relationship between coordinate time and proper time, as shown above. Proper time is invariant. All observers that use the same coordinates will get the same time dilation.
 
  • #22
Dale said:
Time dilation is a relationship between coordinate time and proper time, as shown above. Proper time is invariant. All observers that use the same coordinates will get the same time dilation.
So, if they use different coordinates they get different time dilations.You mean if they use coordinate systems like spherical, cylindrical,,curvilinear etc?
 
  • #23
universe function said:
So, if they use different coordinates they get different time dilations.You mean if they use coordinate systems like spherical, cylindrical,,curvilinear etc?
Plain old cartesian coordinates with three perpendicular axes for space and a standard of rest so that the time axis can be oriented.

If you change the standard of rest, you get time dilation.
 
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  • #24
universe function said:
So, if they use different coordinates they get different time dilations.You mean if they use coordinate systems like spherical, cylindrical,,curvilinear etc?
Well, changing the spatial coordinates will indeed change the formulas, but to get a substantive difference in time dilation you have to change the time coordinate. E.g. the relativity of simultaneity.
 
  • #25
universe function said:
So, if they use different coordinates they get different time dilations.You mean if they use coordinate systems like spherical, cylindrical,,curvilinear etc?
That would be a neat trick: you switch to polar coordinates and your watch runs slow!
 
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  • #26
Nothing at all must change by just changing any spacetime coordinates. If it does, you made a mistake. The most "safe" way to do it right is to use the manifestly covariant formalism of tensor algebra and tensor calculus.
 
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  • #27
vanhees71 said:
Nothing at all must change by just changing any spacetime coordinates
Coordinate-based quantities can and do change when changing coordinates
 
  • #28
Of course, components of vectors and tensor change when you change the basis, and often you change the basis when changing the coordinates, but physical quantities must not depend on any of these arbitrary choices. Remembering this from time to time when involved in complicated transformation issues helps!
 
  • #29
Could time be a generalisation of a spatial coordinate?Spatial coordinates show the position but time coordinate changes and moves only as a fourth dimension to the future naturally.
 
  • #30
Another question is could we have change of mass in the measurements while length contraction happens?I think it stays the same according to the math.But could it only in the measurements show this?
 

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