 |
The Mechanical Universe 42
The Lorentz Transformation |
If the speed of light is to be the same for all observers, then the length of a meter stick, or the rate of a ticking clock, depends on who measures it.
Ch Frame Code Title
1 A Opening Sequence
2 02535 G Lorentz Transformation
3 03679 V Nineteenth Century Technology
4 06973 E 1881 Michelson-Morley
5 08291 H F. G. Fitzgerald
6 08603 E 1887 Michelson-Morley
7 09063 H Electron Theory Of Length Contraction
8 09773 H Thomson:Electron Discovery
9 10382 H Electron Theory Of Length Contraction
10 10608 E 1887 Interferometer
11 10945 V Toy Train-Constant Speed
12 12413 V Train-Motion And Speed
13 13901 V Toy Train-Constant Speed
14** 14051 A Expanding Light Sphere
15** 14749 A Henry's Observations Of Light Sphere
16** 15337 A Albert's Observations Of Light Sphere
17** 15662 A Introduction To Light Detectors
18** 16044 A Albert's Measurements With Light Dectectors
19** 16562 A Henry's Measurements With Light Detectors
20** 17002 A Replay Of Light Sphere And Detectors
21 17856 P Poincare's Relativity
22 18781 A Galileo's Relativity
23 19011 P Galileo And Inertia
24 19593 V Toy Train-No Absolute Motion
25** 20619 A Time Dilation-Light Clocks
26** 24706 A Length Contraction-Rulers
27 25047 V Length Contraction Of Earth
28 26007 H Lorentz: Solvay Conference
29 27635 V Toy Train -Length And Time
30** 28552 A Galilean Transformation
31** 29047 A Lorentz Transformation
32** 29666 A Multiple Light Clocks
33 30451 V Joining Of Space And Time
34 31882 H Leiden And Albert Einstein
35 33219 E Galileo's Inclined Plane
36 33382 H Maxwell: Electromagnetism
37 33852 P Postulates Of Special Relativity
38** 34182 A Expanding Light Sphere
39** 35152 A Space-Time: Classical
40** 37571 A Space-Time: Light Sphere
41** 41255 A Space-Time: Length Contraction
42** 42701 A Space-Time: Time Dilation
43 44229 H Lorentz And Einstein
44 45093 A Replay Of Light Sphere
45 45519 H Lorentz At Blackboard
46 45864 G Significance Of Einstein's Special Relativity
48500 credits
Animations in Chs 14-20, 25-26, 30-32 and 39-42 are superb - Einstein and Lorentz on rail cars with clocks and meter sticks.
The space-time diagrams in Chs 39-42 are terrific.
Disclaimer: All demonstrations are posted for the convenience and benefit of faculty and staff in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University and are not intended for outside use. The author(s) assume no responsibility or liability for the use of information contained on this site. Warnings and precautionary measures listed on this site assume normal operation of equipment and are not inclusive. Demonstrations may pose a significant hazard and can, in some instances, result in death; reasonable safety precautions must be taken. Demonstrations should be performed by qualified individuals only.
Prepared by Jeff Rudd, 1999
Revised by Laura Schmidt, 2007