Consequences of Lorentz transformation:
i) Relativity of Simultaneity:
ii) Einstein Time dilation or apparent retardation of Clocks:
iii) Relativity of space: Lorentz – Fitzgerald contraction (or Length
contraction)
i) Relativity of Simultaneity:
Two events are said to be simultaneous if they occur at the same time.
Let there be two events occur simultaneously in frame S at points P1 and
P2
Let the coordinates of two events P1 and P2 be (x1, y1, z1, t1) and (x2, y2,
z2, t2). Since the events are simultaneous in frame S, therefore t1 = t2. If
t 1 and t 2 are the corresponding time for the same events P1 and P2 with
respect to system S , then the Lorentz transformation equations
t 1= and t 2 =
√ √
t2 -t1= - = since t1 = t2
√ √ √
t2 -t1 =
√
Thus if the events are simultaneous in frame S must be equal to
or - must be equal to zero.
different places P1 and P2 which are
simultaneous for an observer at rest in frame S, are no longer
1
simultaneous to an observer in frame S having linear motion relative to
S.
This follows that simultaneity is not absolute but relative. Also time
does not run backward for any observer. No observer can see an event
before it occurs (takes place).
ii) Einstein Time dilation or apparent retardation of Clocks:
Let there be two reference frames S and S where S is moving with
velocity v relative to S along (+ve) x direction. Suppose that a clock is
placed at a point x1 in reference frame S which is at rest. Let this clock
gives a signal at time t1 and the observer in frame S measures that time
is t 1. From Lorentz transformation equations we have
t 1= ……….. (1)
√
If this clock again gives a signal at time t2, then corresponding
time in frame S is given by
t 2= ………… (2)
√
Thus the clock gives signal at an interval (t2 – t1) = in system S, when
this interval is measured from the moving system S , it is equal to (t 2 –
t 1) =
Therefore from equations (1) and (2) we can write
(t 2 – t 1) = - =
√ √ √
2
Or = = ( = ………… (3)
√
i.e.
From expression (3) it is clear that time interval appears to the
moving observer to be dilated or lengthened by a factor where, v is
the velocity of the moving observer.
Hence from above we may say, “A moving clock always appears to go
slow”. Consequently to the observer in motion the clock at rest appears
to be retarded by a factor √ . This is apparent relation of clocks.
Therefore „every clock appears to go at its fastest rate when it is at rest
relative to the observer. Its rate appears to go on slowing by the factor
√ as its velocity v relative to the observer goes on increasing.
iii) Relativity of space: Lorentz – Fitzgerald contraction (or
Length contraction)
Consider two systems S and S , a rod parallel to x axis placed in S
system at rest and length of this rod is Lo = (say)
3
Let an observer O in S moving with velocity –v relative to the rod and he
has to determine the length of the rod from S frame. Let x1 and x2 be the
coordinates of the two ends of the rod i.e. in S, L= x2 – x1
Now from Lorentz inverse transformation equation we have
( )
x= where, t = γ (t - vx/c2)
√
( )
or, x = = +
√ √
or, x (1+ ) = +
√
√
or, x( ) =
or, x=
As both ends of the rod are being observed at the same instant t, we can write
X1 = √ and x2 = √
Therefore, x2 - x1 = ( √ = Lo √
Or, L = Lo√ i.e. L Lo
i.e. the length of the moving rod is contracted along the direction of motion by a
factor √
4
[i.e. the length of rod seems to be contracted when measured by moving observer
along the direction of length of the rod in the ratio [1 : √ where v being
the velocity of the observer.]
If we consider the length of the rod along perpendicular to the direction of motion
of system say along y axis and if y1 and y2 are the coordinates of ends of the rod
relative to system S and and in frame S then the other component of the rod
Loy = - , the length of the rod in S, Ly = y2 – y1
From Lorentz transformation y = y , y1 = and y2 = ,
y2 – y1 = - i.e. Ly = Loy, i.e. length remain unchanged in a direction
perpendicular to the direction of motion.
Thus we concluded that “the length of moving rod is contracted along the direction
of motion by a factor √ while there is no contraction along a direction
perpendicular to the direction of motion”. This statement is called Lorentz-
Fitzgerald contraction.
