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Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity
A Stanford University Online Course
Larry Randles Lagerstrom, Instructor
Regions of spacetime (Week 6 video lecture)
Note: The video lecture discussed how the invariant interval is used to categorize regions of spacetime.
If the invariant interval between two events is greater than 0, then we say that there is a “timelike”
interval or separation between the events. If the invariant interval is equal to 0, then it’s a “lightlike”
separation, and if the invariant interval is less than 0, then it’s a “spacelike” separation. In equation
form:
Timelike: c2t2 – x2 > 0, or c2t2 > x2, where t is the time difference between two spacetime points and x is
the spatial distance between the two points. Or, if c is in units where c = 1 (such as c = 1 light‐year/year),
then t2 > x2.
Similarly:
Lightlike: c2t2 – x2 = 0, or c2t2 = x2, or t2 = x2 if c = 1.
Spacelike: c2t2 – x2 < 0, or c2t2 < x2, or t2 < x2 if c = 1.
We applied these equations to the case where an observer is at the origin, so it’s easy to calculate the
invariant interval between the observer’s spacetime location (x = 0, t = 0) and any other spacetime
point. That is, we simply look at the (x,t) coordinates of the spacetime point in question and see which
case above fits.
One point was not explained sufficiently, however. If t2 > x2, we can write this as t > x if both x and t are
positive. But more generally (which was skipped over in the video), we can write it as |t| > |x|. That is,
the absolute value of t is greater than the absolute value of x. (Remember that the absolute value of a
quantity is simply its distance from the origin, or informally, its positive value. So the absolute value of a
positive number is simply the number, and the absolute value of a negative number is the positive value
of that number. For example, the absolute value of 7.3 is 7.3, while the absolute value of –7.3 is also
7.3.)
So the bottom line is that if one spacetime point is at the origin, and another is at some (x,t) location,
then we simply compare the absolute value of the t coordinate to the absolute value of the x
coordinate. Another way to look at it (as mentioned in the video) is that we’re checking to see whether
there’s “enough time to make the distance” between the origin and the spacetime point in question,
given that the speed of light is the ultimate speed limit. If the t coordinate dominates, i.e., |t| > |x|,
then there is enough time and it’s a timelike interval. If the x coordinate dominates, i.e., |x| > |t|, then
there is not enough time and it’s a spacelike interval. And if they are the same, i.e., |t| = |x|, then there
is just enough time if one travels at the speed of light, and so we call it a lightlike interval.
Lecture outline on next page...
Combined spacetime diagrams for Bob’s plot on Alice’s regular (90‐degree angles) plot, and vice versa.
The light cone
Timelike interval
Lightlike interval
Spacelike interval