xv

'
x=
( x−vt )
2
y’ = y z’ = z
'
t=
( t−
c ) 2

v
√ 1−
c2
√ 1−
v2
c2

Given the Lorentz transformations above we are going to investigate relative velocity.

dx dy dz
Let’s define the velocity of an object in the unprimed frame as ú so u x = , u y = and u z=
dt dt dt
similarly in the primed frame (moving at v along the x axis relative to the unprimed frame);

dx ' dy ' dz '

u ' x= , u ' y= and u ' z=
dt ' dt ' dt '

The goal is to get the relationship between the components of the velocity in the primed frame
with the components of the velocity in the unprimed frame.

dx ' dy ' dz '

dx ' dx ' dt dt dt dt
u ' x= = = similarly u ' y = and u ' z=
dt ' dt dt ' dt ' dt ' dt '
dt dt dt

dx '
Step one; Find u ' x which is by differentiating the expression for x’ from the Lorentz
dt
transformation with respect to t.

dt '
Step 2; Find by differentiating the expression for t’ from the Lorentz transformation with
dt
respect to t.

dx '
Step 3; Divide the result from step one by the result from step two. In this result write as
dt
dx
u ' x and as u x
dt

dy ' dy
Step for 4; use the same method to find u ' y and u ' z. Remember to write as u ' y and as
dt dt
dz ' dz
u y and as u ' z and as u z
dt dt

As a check show that if ú=c i^ or ú=c ^j or ú=c k^ that the speed in the primed frame is c.
 u '|=c
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