- #1
thrush
- 5
- 0
Hi!
I am new here, thought to join as I am trying to learn Relativity, in this case Special Relativity. I have solved a bunch of problems already but ...
The Lorentz Transform formulation I am dealing with is a 4x4 matrix. I understand the invariance of the spacetime interval and have solved it several times:
delta_s^2 = -(delta_t^2) + delta_x^2 ... delta_y, delta_z are zero.
What I don't get is that for any event in frame S, where delta_X (and delta_Y, delta_Z) = 0, and only delta_T is non-zero, I am the guy standing on the train station watching the train pass. Why then is the time in frame S', delta_t' never less than delta_t? It can't be because the denominator sqrt(1-B^2) can never be greater than 1!
How can the passing train's time interval delta_t' be greater than the 'stationary' observer? I thought a velocity like β=3/5C would make delta_t' in the train's inertial reference frame always delta_t' < delta_t?
Sorry to be such a newbie, but I simply must figure this out!
THANKS
I am new here, thought to join as I am trying to learn Relativity, in this case Special Relativity. I have solved a bunch of problems already but ...
The Lorentz Transform formulation I am dealing with is a 4x4 matrix. I understand the invariance of the spacetime interval and have solved it several times:
delta_s^2 = -(delta_t^2) + delta_x^2 ... delta_y, delta_z are zero.
What I don't get is that for any event in frame S, where delta_X (and delta_Y, delta_Z) = 0, and only delta_T is non-zero, I am the guy standing on the train station watching the train pass. Why then is the time in frame S', delta_t' never less than delta_t? It can't be because the denominator sqrt(1-B^2) can never be greater than 1!
How can the passing train's time interval delta_t' be greater than the 'stationary' observer? I thought a velocity like β=3/5C would make delta_t' in the train's inertial reference frame always delta_t' < delta_t?
Sorry to be such a newbie, but I simply must figure this out!
THANKS