RELATIVIDAD ESPECIAL

UNIDAD 1 – SEMANA 3
FUNDAMENTOS DE LA RELATIVIDAD ESPECIAL

GEOMETRÍA DEL ESPACIO-TIEMPO

2.9: Space-time When describing events in
relativity, it’s convenient to
represent events with a
space-time diagram.

In this diagram, one spatial

coordinate x, specifies
position, and instead of time t,
ct is used as the other
coordinate so that both
coordinates will have
dimensions of length.

Space-time diagrams were

first used by H. Minkowski in
1908 and are often called
Minkowski diagrams. Paths
in Minkowski space-time are
called world-lines.
Particular Worldlines

Stationary
observers
Slope of live on
worldline vertical
is c/v. lines.
A light
wave has a
45º slope.
 Worldlines
and Time

Observers at x1
and x2. see what’s
happening at
x = x3 at t = 0
simultaneously.
Alternatively, an
event occurring at
x3 can be used to
synchronize
clocks at x1 and x2.
Moving
Clocks

Observers in
a frame
moving at
velocity, v,
will see the
event
happening at
x = x3 at t = 0
at different
times.
The Light Cone
The past, present, and future are easily identified in space-time
diagrams. And if we add another spatial dimension, these regions
become cones.
Space-time Interval and Metric
Recall that, since all observers see the same speed of light, all
observers, regardless of their velocities, must see spherical wave
fronts.

s2 = x2 + y2 + z2 – c2t2 = (x’)2 + (y’)2 + (z’)2 – c2 (t’)2 = (s’)2

This interval can be written in terms of the

space-time metric:
y
1 0 0 0 x
x 0 1 0 0   y 
s2   x z ct  
z
y
0 0 1 0  z
  
0 0 0 1 ct 
Space-time Invariants
The quantity Δs2 between two events is invariant (the same) in any
inertial frame.
Δs is known as the space-time interval between two events.

There are three possibilities for Δs2:

Δs2 = 0: Δx2 = c2 Δt2, and the two events can be connected only by a light
signal. The events are said to have a light-like separation.

Δs2 > 0: Δx2 > c2 Δt2, and no signal can travel fast enough to connect the
two events. The events are not causally connected and are said to
have a space-like separation.

Δs2 < 0: Δx2 < c2 Δt2, and the two events can be causally connected. The
interval is said to be time-like.