- #1
NoahsArk
Gold Member
- 237
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I am trying to understand the general form of the Lorentz Transformations before I even get into the long process of deriving that into the specific equations. In Taylor and Wheeler's, Spacetime Physics book they give this as the general form:
t= Bx1 + Dt1
x= Gx1 + Ht1
In the equation for t, why is x being added into the equation? I don't understand, if we are trying to convert time in one reference frame to time in another, why we'd be adding x when x is distance.
Similarly, in the equation for x, why are we adding t?
Also, in the equation for t, I know that the coefficient, D, in front of t1 is γ which is derived from the invariance of the interval. In the equation for, x, though, the authors give vγ (where v is the velocity of the second (rocket) frame from the perspective of the first (earth) frame), as the coefficient of t1. What is the explanation for that?
Thank you.
t= Bx1 + Dt1
x= Gx1 + Ht1
In the equation for t, why is x being added into the equation? I don't understand, if we are trying to convert time in one reference frame to time in another, why we'd be adding x when x is distance.
Similarly, in the equation for x, why are we adding t?
Also, in the equation for t, I know that the coefficient, D, in front of t1 is γ which is derived from the invariance of the interval. In the equation for, x, though, the authors give vγ (where v is the velocity of the second (rocket) frame from the perspective of the first (earth) frame), as the coefficient of t1. What is the explanation for that?
Thank you.