RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Name: Lester Ian Lepaopao Score:

Course Section: CED-10-601A Rating:

Week 4 Task
DIRECTION: Watch the following videos and answer the corresponding questions for each video
briefly.

A. GALILEAN TRANSFORMATION EQUATIONS FOR POSITION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRKtQKCbEII&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr&index=13
Guide Questions:
1. Based on your understanding, what is Galilean transformation? Explain your answer by citing
one specific example.
Galilean transformation is used to transform the coordinates of a particle (or object) from
one inertial frame to another. This includes the comparison of observations of position and time
made by two observers, located in two different inertial frames.
Let's consider two inertial frames S and S'. S is at rest and S' is moving with a constant velocity
v relative to S. Suppose an event is happening at point P at particular time.

Let set the coordinates of P with respect to S (x, y, z, t) and with respect to S' (x', y', z', t'). We
assume as a postulate of classical physics that t = t' , that is, time is the same for all observers.
And if t = t' = 0, the origins of the both reference frames coincides with each other. S' frame
travelled a distance of vt with respect to S frame.
Let's choose our axes so that X and X' are parallel to v. Thereby, the relation between these two
inertial frames can be written/expressed as follows:
x' = x - vt
y' = y
(there is no relative motion along y and z axes)
z' = z

t' = t (time is independent of space coordinate system)

YOUR TWIN
These equations are known as Galilean transformation. The inverse Galilean transformation can
be expressed as shown below:
x = x' + vt
y = y'
z = z'

t = t'
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MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

2. Using your cited example, derive the equation of Galilean transformation.

In this question, let's use the following figure. There are two inertial frames of references S and
S’, where S is the stationary frame of reference and S’ is the moving frame of reference.
At time t = t’ = 0 that is in the start, they're at the same position that is Observers O and O’
coincides. After that, S’ frame starts moving with a uniform velocity v along x axis.

Let an event happen at position P in the frame S’. The coordinate of the P will be x’ according
to the observer in S’ and it will be x according to O in S.
We can see that the frame S’ has moved a distance “vt” in time t.
From the figure, the relation between x and x’ is
x = x’ + vt’

However, in this case, the t = t’ thus

x = x’ + vt (Galilean inverse transformation equation)

where t and t’ are the time measured from S and S’ frames respectively. And from the
equation we can also find the value of x'
x’ = x – vt (Galilean transformation equation)

What about the relation of y with y’? It will be

y = y’ (Galilean inverse transformation equation)
or
y’ = y (Galilean transformation equation)
because there is no movement of frame along y-axis. Similarly
z = z’ (Galilean inverse transformation equation)
And
z’ = z (Galilean transformation equation)

Moreover,
t = t’ (Galilean inverse transformation equation)

or
t’ = t (Galilean transformation equation)
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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

3. What does it mean that time is an absolute quantity in classical mechanics?

As a postulate in classical physics, time is the same for all observers. Time is an absolute
quantity where it does not depend on any other quantities.

B. GALILEAN POSITION TRANSFORMATION EXAMPLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-DlKQwRNtQ&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr&index=14

Guide Question:
1. Search for 3 examples of Galilean position transformation and show its solution.
EXAMPLE 1:
A truck that is initially at rest begins to move a straight stretch of road with an average velocity
of 4 m/s with respect to the x-axis in a positive direction. Suppose the traffic light on which the
truck moves is reference frame 1 and the truck itself represents reference frame 2. The traffic light
is stationary and at t = 0 sec, two frames coincide.
y1 y2

x 1 x2

Assume that we are in the truck and an event takes place by the truck at point
(x2 = 25, y2 = 0, z 2 = 0) after the truck traveled for about 60 sec, locate the
equivalent position of the event in reference frame 1.
z1 z2

y1 y2
F1 F2
event

x1 x2
(x1 =?, y1 =0, z1 =0) (x 2 =25, y2 =0, z2 =0)

z1 z2

Given: x 2 = 25 m since the origin of the two frames coincide at t = 0 sec and due the
v = 4 m/s truck did not move along y and z axis, then;
t = 60 s y1 = y2
z1 = z 2
Unknown: x1 = ?
Equation: x1 = x2+ vt
m
Solution: x 1 = 25 m + 4 s (60 s)
x = 25 m + 4 m (60)
x = 25 m + 240 m
Answer: x 1 = 265 m

Coordinates of the point (x 1 =265, y1 =0, z 1 =0) in frame 1.

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

EXAMPLE 2:
A marathoner that is initially stationary begins to run a street course with velocity of 10 m/s
with respect to the x-axis in a positive direction. In this case, let the red flag on which the
marathoner initially at rest be the reference frame 1 and the marathoner represents reference
frame 2. The red flag is stationary and at t = 0 sec, two frames coincide.
y1 y2

x 1 x2

An event takes place where another marathoner finishes the race. The said
winning event takes place at point (x2 = 40, y2 = 0, z 2 = 0) after the marathoner
traveled for about 2 minutes. Find the equivalent position of the event in reference
z1 z2 frame 1.

y1 y2
F1 F2

x1 x2
(x1 =?, y1 =0, z1 =0) (x 2 =40, y2=0, z 2 =0)

z1 z2

Given: x 2 = 40 m since the origin of the two frames coincide at t = 0 sec and due the
v = 10 m/s truck did not move along y and z axis, then;
t = 2 min / 120 s y1 = y2
z1 = z 2
Unknown: x1 = ?
Equation: x1 = x2+ vt
m
Solution: x 1 = 40 m + 10 s (120 s)
x = 40 m + 10 m (120)
x = 40 m + 1200 m
Answer: x 1 = 1240 m

Coordinates of the point (x 1 =1240, y1 =0, z1 =0) in frame 1.

 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

EXAMPLE 3:
In an Olympics, a swimmer that is at rest begins to swim with a velocity of 5 m/s with respect
to the x-axis in a positive direction. Let’s consider the ladder be the reference frame 1 and the
swimmer represents reference frame 2; ladder is stationary and at t = 0 sec, two frames coincide.

y1 y2

x 1 x2

An event where a judge is standing at the end of the pool at point (x2 = 5, y 2 = 0,
z 2 = 0) after the marathoner traveled for about 5 minutes. Find the equivalent
z1 z2 position of the event in reference frame 1.

y1 y2
F1 F2

x1 x2
(x1 =?, y1 =0, z1 =0) (x2 =5, y2=0, z2 =0)

z1 z2

Given: x2= 5 m since the origin of the two frames coincide at t = 0 sec and due the
v = 5 m/s truck did not move along y and z axis, then;
t = 5 min / 300 s y1 = y2
z1 = z 2
Unknown: x1 = ?
Equation: x1 = x2+ vt
m
Solution: x 1 = 5 m + 5 s (300 s)
x = 5 m + 5 m (300)
x = 5 m + 1500 m
Answer: x 1 = 1505m

Coordinates of the point (x 1 =1505, y1 =0, z1 =0) in frame 1.

 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

C. GALILEAN TRANSFORMATION FOR VELOCITY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH3_lIkSB9s&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr&index=15
Guide Question:
1. Derive the Galilean transformation for velocity.
In Galilean transformation, velocity (just like position) can be transformed between different
inertial reference frames. For derivation purpose, let's consider the figure below:

y1 y2

x 1 x2

Two frames, F and F', coincides at the origin/same position.

z1 z2

As time progress, frame F' moves to the positive direction on x-axis with velocity v while frame
F remain at rest.

y1 F y2 F'

W'

x1 x2

z1 z2

In frame F', a point has a velocity vector given by W' = W'x , W'y , W'z . The instantaneous
velocity of the given point relative to the observer in frame F' is given by
dx'
W' x =
dt
dy'
W'y =
dt

dz'
W'z =
dt

To determine the velocity vector of the given point relative to frame F, let’s use the Galilean
transformation equations for position to find the three quantities below:

Wx = ? Wy = ? Wz = ?
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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

The Galilean transformation equations for position are as follows:

x = x' + vt
y = y'
z = z'

Let's start with Wx

dx
Wx = (replace the value of x)
dt

d (x' + vt) (distribute the derivative)

W =
dt
dx' d(vt) (simplify)
W = +
dt dt
dx'
Wx = + v
dt

In W y and Wz , simply replace y to y' and z to z' respectively.

dy dy'
W y= =
dt dt

dz dz'
W z= =
dt dt

The velocity of the a point relative to frame F are the following and these are known as Galilean
velocity transformation equations:

Wx = W'x + v or W' x = Wx - v

Wy = W'y

Wz = W' z

D. GALILEAN VELOCITY TRANSFORMATION EXAMPLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFS35_0Vgl0&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr&index=16

Guide Question:
1. Search for 3 examples of Galilean velocity transformation and show its solution.
EXAMPLE 1:
Suppose a car and traffic cone coincides at t = 0 s. As time progresses, the car (frame F') moves in a
positive direction along the x-axis with velocity of 20 m/s while the traffic cone (frame F) remains
stationary.
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MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

y,y'

x,x'

Meanwhile, a motorcycle has a velocity given by vector W’ = (5, 0, 0) m/s relative

to the car. Find the equivalent velocity W of the motorcycle with respect to the
z,z' traffic cone (frame F).

y F y' F'

x x'
W = (?, 0, 0) m/s W’ = (5, 0, 0) m/s

z z'

Given: W’x = 5
W’y = 0
W’z = 0
v = 20 m/s
Unknown: W=?

Equation: W = (W'x + v, W'y ,W'z )

Solution: W = (5 + 20, 0, 0) m/s

W = (25, 0, 0) m/s

Answer: W = (25, 0, 0) m/s is the velocity of the motorcycle relative to traffic cone
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

EXAMPLE 2:
Lester and Leslie meet at the same place. Leslie decides to buy a snack in a market and she
starts walking in a positive direction along the x-axis with a velocity of 5 m/s. On the other hand,
Lester remains at rest.
y,y'

x,x'

Concurrently, another friend named Ian is jogging with velocity given by vector
W’ = (15, 0, 0) m/s relative to Leslie. What is the equivalent velocity W of Ian relative
z,z' to Lester?

y F y' F'

x x'
W = (?, 0, 0) m/s W’ = (15, 0, 0) m/s

z'
z
Given: W’x = 15
W’y = 0
W’z = 0
v = 5 m/s
Unknown: W=?

Equation: W = (W'x + v, W'y ,W'z )

Solution: W = (15 + 5, 0, 0) m/s

W = (20, 0, 0) m/s

Answer: W = (20, 0, 0) m/s is the velocity of Ian relative to Lester.

 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

EXAMPLE 3:
Two boats coincide at t = 0 s. As time passes by, the blue boat moves to the right with a
velocity of 15 m/s while the pink boat remains stationary.

y,y'

x,x'

z,z' Surprisingly, a dolphin swims with velocity given by vector W = (25, 0, 0) m/s
relative to the pink boat. Locate the equivalent velocity W of the dolphin relative to
the blue boat.

y F y' F'

x x'
W = (25, 0, 0) m/s W’ = (?, 0, 0) m/s

z'
z
Given: W x = 25
Wy = 0
Wz = 0
v = 15 m/s
Unknown: W' =
?
Equation: W' = (Wx - v, W y ,W z )

Solution: W' = (25 - 15, 0, 0) m/s

W = (10, 0, 0) m/s

Answer: W = (10, 0, 0) m/s is the velocity of the dolphin relative to the blue boat.