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PH1001 2

1. The Galilean transformation describes the relationship between two frames in uniform relative motion based on classical mechanics, but it violates the postulates of special relativity. 2. The Michelson-Morley experiment found no evidence for the hypothetical luminiferous ether, which was thought to be the medium for light propagation. 3. The Lorentz transformation provides the correct relationship between two inertial frames in uniform relative motion that is consistent with the postulates of special relativity, including that the speed of light is constant in all reference frames.

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8 views11 pages

PH1001 2

1. The Galilean transformation describes the relationship between two frames in uniform relative motion based on classical mechanics, but it violates the postulates of special relativity. 2. The Michelson-Morley experiment found no evidence for the hypothetical luminiferous ether, which was thought to be the medium for light propagation. 3. The Lorentz transformation provides the correct relationship between two inertial frames in uniform relative motion that is consistent with the postulates of special relativity, including that the speed of light is constant in all reference frames.

Uploaded by

saidarshansahusd
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Galilean Transformation

y
y x  x  vt
S
v
y  y
S
O x
z  z
O x
t t
z
y y S
z S EVENT
v

vt x
x
Time is absolute
O x O x

The Galilean transformation is the commonsense relationship which agrees


with our everyday experience (postulate of classical physics).
PH1001/9
Velocity Component
dx 
vx   vx  v
dt 
dy 
vy   vy
dt 
dz 
vz   vz
dt 
Drawbacks:
1. Violates both of the postulate of special theory of relativity
[i] Same equations of physics in S and S, but the equations of
electricity and magnetism is entirely different.
[ii] c = c - v
Go for different transformation
PH1001/10
Before Einstein’s work, a conflict had existed between the
principles of mechanics, which were then based on Newton’s laws
of motion, and those of electricity and magnetism, which had
been developed into a unified theory by Maxwell.
Einstein showed that Maxwell’s theory is consistent with special
relativity
At higher speeds Newtonian mechanics fails and must be
replaced by the relativistic version

Searching for an absolute Reference System


 Ether was proposed as an absolute reference system, in
which the speed of light was constant and from which other
measurements could be made.
 The Michelson-Morley experiment was an attempt to show
the existence of ether
PH1001/11
Ether Medium
Galilean transformation: A preferred frame of reference in which the speed
of light has the precise value of c and other frames in relative motion in
which the speed of light would differ.

Like water medium, which medium is required for propagation of light


waves ?

The physicists of the 19th century, postulated the existence of an invisible, massless
medium, called the ether, which filled all space, was undetectable by any mechanical
means, and existed solely for the propagation of light waves.

The first detailed and precise search for the preferred frame was
performed in 1887 by the American physicist Albert A. Michelson
and his associate E. W. Morley.

Albert A. Michelson (1852–1931, United States). He spent 50 years doing


increasingly precise experiments with light, for which he became the first U.S.
citizen to win the Nobel
Prize in physics (1907).
PH1001/12
Michelson-Morley Experiment
Experiment designed to measure small changes in the
speed of light was performed by A. Michelson (1852-1931,
Nobel) and Edward W. Morley(1838-1923)

“Motion of earth through the ether”


“Ether”: a hypothetical medium
pervading the universe in which light
waves were supposed to occur.

• Used an optical instrument called an


interferometer that Michelson invented
• Device was to detect the presence of the
ether

A. A. Michelson and E. W. Morley, American Journal of Science, 134, 333 (1887)


PH1001/13
Upstream-Downstream-Crossstream Paths
There are two contributions to the phase difference
between the beams. S
(a) The first contribution comes from the path
difference AB − AC; one of the beams may travel a
longer distance.
(b) The second contribution, which would still be S/
present even if the path lengths were equal, comes
from the time difference between the upstream-
downstream and cross-stream paths and indicates
the motion of the Earth through the ether.
S
Michelson and Morley used a clever method to isolate
this second contribution—they rotated the entire
apparatus by 90◦!

They also repeated the expt. after six months, to study S/


the effect of orbital motion of the Earth.
No observable change in the fringe pattern has
occurred.
In no experiment, Michelson and Morley were able to detect the motion of the Earth
through the ether. PH1001/14
Lorentz Transformation
x  k ( x  vt)
y
y x  vt
S x 
v
1 v2 / c2
S
O x y  y
O x z  z
vx
t
z c2
t 
z 1 v2 / c2

 Basic formulas of A more symmetric form:


electromagnetism are the
same in all inertial frames

PH1001/15
Lorentz Transformation
A reasonable guess about the nature of the correct relationship
between x and x/ is

Here k is a factor that does not depend upon either x or t but


may be a function of v.

And

Because the equations of physics must have the same form in both S
and S/, we need only change the sign of (in order to take into account the
difference in the direction of relative motion) to write the corresponding
equation for x in terms of x/ and t/:

The factor k must be the same in both frames of reference since there is
no difference between S and S/ other than in the sign of v.
Putting the value of X/
PH1001/16
Lorentz Transformation

The above equations constitute a coordinate transformation that satisfies the


first postulate of special relativity.
The second postulate of relativity gives us a way to evaluate k.

At the instant t = 0, the origins of the two frames of reference S and S/ are
in the same place, according to our initial conditions, and t/ = 0 then also.
Suppose that a flare is set off at the common origin of S and S/ at t = t/ = 0,
and the observers in each system measure the speed with which the
flare’s light spreads out.

Both observers must find the same speed c ,

In the S frame, x = ct,

In the S/ frame, x/ = ct/


Substituting the value of x/ and t/, in the above equation PH1001/17
Lorentz Transformation

Solving for x,

We know, x= ct. So,

PH1001/18
Inverse Lorentz Transformation
To obtain the inverse transformation, primed and unprimed
quantities are exchanged, and v is replaced by -v:

S/
S

PH1001/19

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