Insights Introducing Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper: A Graphical Motivation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the article "Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper," published in the American Journal of Physics, which provides a graphical motivation for understanding special relativity concepts such as time dilation and length contraction. The author references earlier work on light clocks, asserting that the areas of all light-clock diamonds are equal, a claim supported by algebraic proof. The discussion highlights the importance of visual aids in teaching relativity, particularly through the use of rotated graph paper to illustrate complex concepts effectively.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity principles
  • Familiarity with light clocks and their significance in relativity
  • Basic knowledge of algebraic proofs in physics
  • Experience with graphical representations in physics education
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of light-clock diamonds in special relativity
  • Research graphical methods for teaching complex physics concepts
  • Study the algebraic proof presented in "Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper"
  • Investigate the effects of time dilation and length contraction in practical scenarios
USEFUL FOR

Physics educators, students of relativity, and anyone interested in innovative teaching methods for complex scientific concepts.

robphy
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(based on https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/teaching-sr-without-simultaneity.1011051/post-6588952 and https://physics.stackexchange.com/a/689291/148184 )

In my earlier Insight Spacetime Diagrams of Light Clocks,
I stated without proof that the areas of all light-clock diamonds are equal.
In my article, “Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper”, Am. J. Phys. 84, 344 (2016)
I provided algebraic proof.

In the penultimate draft, I had a non-algebraic motivating argument (which also motivates time dilation and length contraction)
that had to be left out because the article was already too long.
This argument now appears in Introducing relativity on rotated graph paper...

Continue reading...
 

Thread 'EPR revisited'

In an inertial frame of reference (IFR), there are two fixed points, A and B, which share an entangled state $$ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0>_A|1>_B+|1>_A|0>_B) $$ At point A, a measurement is made. The state then collapses to $$ |a>_A|b>_B, \{a,b\}=\{0,1\} $$ We assume that A has the state ##|a>_A## and B has ##|b>_B## simultaneously, i.e., when their synchronized clocks both read time T However, in other inertial frames, due to the relativity of simultaneity, the moment when B has ##|b>_B##...
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