Confusion between simultanety and time dialation

In summary, the time dilation rule is used to calculate the time needed for a person inside a moving spacecraft to reach the location of an event. This is different from the time of occurrence of the event. Due to length contraction, two events that occur simultaneously in one frame may not occur simultaneously in another frame. This can lead to paradoxes, such as the case of the train, where the location of flashing lights must be calculated using length contraction to prevent paradoxes.
  • #1
firavia
137
0
Let events 1 and 2 occur at and in frame S. In frame S' they occur at

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-4.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-5.png

if this is true than time dilation rule IS no more applicable cause as we know to calculate the location of an event or anything at a certain location in a frame of reference " S' " using the coordinates of the location of this same event in frame "S " we must use the contraction of length law which will give us the exact location of the event in the frame of S' and samely to determien the time using time dilation rule , if an event 1 occur at t = 3 sec according to the clock of frame S this same event will occur at time X s which is calculated using the time dilation method , t= t0 / (radical (1- (v sqaure / c square ) .

and if the 2 events occurred at the same time in the frame of reference S , throught the time dilation rule they must occur SIMULTANELY in frame S' but at diferent time of occurence in frame S .

I'e understood time dilation correclty but now I am confusing , why if we want to calculate the time that a spacecraft reaches a star we do apply the law of time dilation using the time of the arrival of this spacecraft in the frame of another observer , isn't the arrival is considered an event , so why other events are not being calculated using the same law .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
firavia said:
Let events 1 and 2 occur at and in frame S. In frame S' they occur at

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-4.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-5.png
[/URL]
OK.

if this is true than time dilation rule IS no more applicable cause as we know to calculate the location of an event or anything at a certain location in a frame of reference " S' " using the coordinates of the location of this same event in frame "S " we must use the contraction of length law which will give us the exact location of the event in the frame of S' and samely to determien the time using time dilation rule , if an event 1 occur at t = 3 sec according to the clock of frame S this same event will occur at time X s which is calculated using the time dilation method , t= t0 / (radical (1- (v sqaure / c square ) .
I don't understand what you're saying here. Your equations above--the Lorentz transformations--already include "time dilation" (and other factors).

and if the 2 events occurred at the same time in the frame of reference S , throught the time dilation rule they must occur SIMULTANELY in frame S' but at diferent time of occurence in frame S .
The "time dilation" rule tells you that a moving clock is observed to run slow. That's distinct from simultaneity.

I'e understood time dilation correclty but now I am confusing , why if we want to calculate the time that a spacecraft reaches a star we do apply the law of time dilation using the time of the arrival of this spacecraft in the frame of another observer , isn't the arrival is considered an event , so why other events are not being calculated using the same law .
Again, it's not clear what you mean. You can certainly think in terms of events and translate their space-time coordinates from one frame to another. To do that one uses the full Lorentz transformations. In special cases you can apply simpler rules such as the time dilation formula. In the case of a spacecraft , which is essentially a moving clock, we can use the time dilation formula.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #3
Those were started by voigt, but I want to know how to derive the time eqn
I think all that firavia wants to know is the difference between the eqns
 
Last edited:
  • #4
firavia said:
Let events 1 and 2 occur at and in frame S. In frame S' they occur at

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-3.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-4.png
https://www.physicsforums.com/latex_images/18/1880804-5.png
[/URL]
On second reading, it looks like you mistyped one of the equations. I assume you meant:
[tex]
x'_1 = \gamma(x_1 - vt_1)
[/tex]
[tex]
t'_1 = \gamma(t_1 - vx_1/c^2)
[/tex]
[tex]
x'_2 = \gamma(x_2 - vt_2)
[/tex]
[tex]
t'_2 = \gamma(t_2 - vx_2/c^2)
[/tex]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #5
vin300 said:
Those were started by voigt,
?
but I want to know how to derive the time eqn
What do you mean? How to derive the time dilation formula from the Lorentz transformations?
 
  • #6
Can we say that the time needed according to a man inside a spacecraft in order reach the location of an event that might be for example " the flashing light sourse location" is the time calculated through time dilation rule ?

if yes than the time of occurence of an event is different than the time needed to reach the location of where the event will happen .

so I can conclude that it is due to length contraction 2 events that are occurring simultanesly in one frame cannot occur simultanesly in another frame . is that right .

lets take the example of a train , in the frame of a man standing on a platform the 2 flashings are happenng simultanesly and marking both ends of the train but in the frame of reference of a passenger inside the train the front flash light must happen before the back flashlight cause the location of the flashing sources according to this frame of refference are now closer to each other due to length contraction and the length of the train according to the passenger is now at its proper length , so in order to prevent a paradox and the 2 flash lights mark both ends of the train and due to geometrical changes one flash light msut occur before the other , but the location of each flashlights sources are calculated by the legnth contraction formula using the constants of velocity of the train , celerity and the location L0 of the 2 fflash lights sources seen by the man on the platform ..
what I am trying to say if one event is happening in one frame of reference can its occurence be calculated in another frame of reference using time dilation formula ?
or laurentz transformation must be used ??


can I say that simultaneity do exist because of length contraction and vice versa ?
what about the causality ? isn't it broken how can 1 action that is causing the flash light to be initiated is being applied in one frame and in another frame that same action is causeing only one of the flash lights to happen ? what is the cause of the other flashlight to occur ?
 
Last edited:
  • #7
Somewhere in a previous thread, I had suggested using t=t0*/(gamma) but Jesse said that was wrong and the equation mentioned in firavia's post is to be used.What exactly makes the former different from the latter?
 
  • #8
firavia said:
Can we say that the time needed according to a man inside a spacecraft in order reach the location of an event that might be for example " the flashing light sourse location" is the time calculated through time dilation rule ?
You need to give a specific example so I can understand what you mean.

if yes than the time of occurence of an event is different than the time needed to reach the location of where the event will happen .
Again, not sure what you mean.

so I can conclude that it is due to length contraction 2 events that are occurring simultanesly in one frame cannot occur simultanesly in another frame . is that right .
Three distinct relativistic effects work together: length contraction, time dilation, and clock desynchronization.

lets take the example of a train , in the frame of a man standing on a platform the 2 flashings are happenng simultanesly and marking both ends of the train but in the frame of reference of a passenger inside the train the front flash light must happen before the back flashlight cause the location of the flashing sources according to this frame of refference are now closer to each other due to length contraction and the length of the train according to the passenger is now at its proper length , so in order to prevent a paradox and the 2 flash lights mark both ends of the train and due to geometrical changes one flash light msut occur before the other , but the location of each flashlights are calculated by the legnth contraction formula using the constants of velocity of the train , celerity and the location L0 of the 2 fflash lights sources seen by the man on the platform ..
To make sure we understand each other, we need a specific example with lengths and times defined.

can I say that simultaneity do exist because of length contraction and vice versa ?
what about the causality ? isn't it broken how can 1 action that is causing the flash light to be initiated is being applied in one frame and in another frame that same action is causeing only one of the flash lights to happen ? what is the cause of the other flashlight to occur ?
I don't understand how causality comes into this. There are two flashes; one does not cause the other. Whether they happen simultaneously or not depends on the frame of reference.
 
  • #9
vin300 said:
Somewhere in a previous thread, I had suggested using t=t0*/(gamma)
Not sure what you mean by that equation.
but Jesse said that was wrong and the equation mentioned in firavia's post is to be used.What exactly makes the former different from the latter?
The equations listed in this post are the complete Lorentz transformations. The time dilation formula is a special case that applies to a moving clock (or equivalent). Of course the time dilation formula can be derived from the more general Lorentz transformations.
 
  • #10
Looks like gravity of the situation is bending firavia's typetime
I had learned a derivation of time dilation formula(the one with only gamma)What I want to know is how to derive this one
 
  • #11
vin300 said:
I had learned a derivation of time dilation formula(the one with only gamma)What I want to know is how to derive this one
You are asking how to derive the Lorentz transformations? Here's a perfectly good discussion of the LT including a derivation: http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/lorentztrans.html"

(Or just check out any relativity text.)
 
Last edited by a moderator:

FAQ: Confusion between simultanety and time dialation

What is simultaneity?

Simultaneity is the concept of two events occurring at the same time, according to a specific observer.

What is time dilation?

Time dilation is the phenomenon in which time appears to pass at different rates for two observers, depending on their relative speeds and gravitational fields.

How are simultaneity and time dilation related?

Simultaneity and time dilation are related because they both involve the perception of time being different for different observers. Additionally, time dilation can affect the perceived simultaneity of events for different observers.

Can simultaneity and time dilation be observed in everyday life?

Yes, the effects of simultaneity and time dilation can be observed in everyday life. For example, GPS satellites have to account for time dilation effects in order to accurately measure location on Earth. Additionally, astronauts experience time dilation when traveling at high speeds in space.

How does Einstein's theory of relativity explain the confusion between simultaneity and time dilation?

Einstein's theory of relativity explains that time is relative and can be perceived differently by different observers. This is due to the fact that time and space are interconnected and can be affected by an observer's relative speed and gravitational field. The confusion between simultaneity and time dilation arises from the fact that these concepts challenge our traditional understanding of time as a constant and absolute measure.

Back
Top