“Galilean” Relativity

© D Hoult 2011
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
relative to third body, the ground
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
relative to third body, the ground
In one second, A moves 3 m to the right and G moves 2 m
to the left
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
relative to third body, the ground
In one second, A moves 3 m to the right and G moves 2 m
to the left
To find the velocity of G relative to A, imagine yourself to
be A
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
relative to third body, the ground
In one second, A moves 3 m to the right and G moves 2 m
to the left
To find the velocity of G relative to A, imagine yourself to
be A
A will see G moving at 5 ms-1 in the
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
relative to third body, the ground
In one second, A moves 3 m to the right and G moves 2 m
to the left
To find the velocity of G relative to A, imagine yourself to
be A
A will see G moving at 5 ms-1 in the negative sense
The velocities stated above are, of course, velocities
relative to third body, the ground
In one second, A moves 3 m to the right and G moves 2 m
to the left
To find the velocity of G relative to A, imagine yourself to
be A
Similarly, G will see A moving at 5 ms-1 in the positive
sense
To find the velocity of G relative to A we simply subtract
the velocity of G (relative to the ground) from the velocity
of A (relative to the ground)
To find the velocity of G relative to A we simply subtract
the velocity of G (relative to the ground) from the velocity
of A (relative to the ground)

VG relative to A = VG – VA
To find the velocity of G relative to A we simply subtract
the velocity of G (relative to the ground) from the velocity
of A (relative to the ground)

VG relative to A = VG – VA
VG relative to A = – 2 – 3 = – 5
We know the relative speed of A and G (magnitude 5 ms-1)
We know the relative speed of A and G (magnitude 5 ms-1)
and that A has measured the speed of p to be of magnitude
10 ms-1 relative to himself
We know the relative speed of A and G (magnitude 5 ms-1)
and that A has measured the speed of p to be of magnitude
10 ms-1 relative to himself
We might want to transform the measurement made by A to
find the speed of p relative to G
Imagine that p was stationary relative to A
Imagine that p was stationary relative to A

Clearly, in this case, the speed of p relative to G is the

same as the speed of p relative to A
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
add the speed of p relative to A to the speed of A relative to
G
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
add the speed of p relative to A to the speed of A relative to
G

Vp relative to G =
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
add the speed of p relative to A to the speed of A relative to
G

Vp relative to G = 5
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
add the speed of p relative to A to the speed of A relative to
G

Vp relative to G = 5 +
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
add the speed of p relative to A to the speed of A relative to
G

Vp relative to G = 5 + (–10) =
In this case to find the speed of p relative to G, we must
add the speed of p relative to A to the speed of A relative to
G

Vp relative to G = 5 + (–10) = – 5 ms-1

Frames of Reference
Frames of Reference
A frame of reference is simply
Frames of Reference
A frame of reference is simply a set of axes and
Frames of Reference
A frame of reference is simply a set of axes and
a clock
Consider two observers, A
Consider two observers and B
at t = zero, A and B are very close together
point p is observed by A and B
In A’s frame of reference p has coordinates
x, y, z
In B’s frame of reference p has coordinates
x’, y’, z’
at t = 0
at t = 0
x’0 = x0 y’0 = y0 z’0 = z0
A and B have a relative velocity of magnitude u
directed parallel to their x axes
Some time later we have
The distance A B is equal to
Now A and B attribute different values to the x
coordinate of point p
It is clear that x’ =
It is clear that x’ = x – ut
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is x’ – x’0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is x’ – x’0
we saw that x’0 = x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is x’ – x’0
we saw that x’0 = x0

and x’ = x – ut
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is x’ – x’0
we saw that x’0 = x0

and x’ = x – ut

(x’ – x’0) = (x – x0) – ut

Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is x’ – x’0
we saw that x’0 = x0

and x’ = x – ut

(x’ – x’0) = (x – x0) – ut

dividing by t gives
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to A is x – x0
Between time zero and time t the change in
position of p relative to B is x’ – x’0
we saw that x’0 = x0

and x’ = x – ut

(x’ – x’0) = (x – x0) – ut

dividing by t gives

v’ = v – u
v’ = v – u
 v’ = v – u

v is the velocity of p relative to A

 v’ = v – u

v is the velocity of p relative to A

u is the velocity of B relative to A

 v’ = v – u

v is the velocity of p relative to A

u is the velocity of B relative to A

v’ is the velocity of p relative to B
 v’ = v – u

v is the velocity of p relative to A

u is the velocity of B relative to A

v’ is the velocity of p relative to B

this equation confirms the relation we used

instinctively when combining relative velocities
 v’ = v – u

v is the velocity of p relative to A

u is the velocity of B relative to A

v’ is the velocity of p relative to B

this equation confirms the relation we used

instinctively when combining relative velocities
and…
 v’ = v – u

v is the velocity of p relative to A

u is the velocity of B relative to A

v’ is the velocity of p relative to B

this equation confirms the relation we used

instinctively when combining relative velocities
and… is wrong !