Another Example: The Twin Paradox

E
Star
Eartha
Astrid
20 light years
u=0.95c
First consider Time of Travel according to Astrid:
1
st
leg: distance from earth to star appears to be contracted according to Astrid.
2 2 2
Astrid
20
dist to star 20 1 20 1 0.95 6.25
ly
ly u c ly ly

= = = =
This is proper according to Eartha.
Another Example: The Twin Paradox
Time of travel =6.25ly / 0.95c =6.6 yrs
2
nd
leg: return trip distance also appeared to be contracted according to Astrid.
Astrid
dist to star 6.25ly = And time of travel =6.6 yrs
Eartha
dist to travel 20 2 40 ly ly = =
So, if Astrid started her journey at 20 years of age, when she comes back to
earth, she will be 20+2*6.6 ~33 years old.
Now, we consider Time of Travel according to Eartha:
And time of travel =40ly / 0.95c
=42 years
So, if Eartha said good bye to Astrid at 20 years of age, when they meet
back, Eartha will be 20+42 ~62 years old.
Another Example: The Twin Paradox
So, according to this description, Astrid will be almost half her twin sisters
age after she comes back from her trip to the star !
Here is the apparent paradox: If all inertial reference frames are
equivalent, can Astrid make exactly the same arguments with the space
ship being stationary and the earth moving so as to conclude that Eartha
will be younger at the end of her journey? Both of these physical
descriptions cannot both be true but SR seems to suggest that they should
(apparent paradox).
Another Example: The Twin Paradox
To resolve this apparent paradox, one need to realize that the following two
situations are not symmetric !
E
Star
Eartha
Astrid
20 light years
u=0.95c
E
Star
Eartha
Astrid
20 light years
u=0.95c decelerate
accelerate
Astrid has
to switch
inert. ref.
frame here.
Earth did
not acc
nor decc.
Another Example: The Twin Paradox
Notes:
Astrid was not in a single inertial reference frame. She
switched inertial reference frame at midpoint. (But, her
entire journey can be approximated by two separate inertial
reference frames.
Eartha was in a single inertial reference frame throughout
the entire journey.
The seemingly symmetric descriptions between Astrid and
Eartha are not symmetric at all and their actual physical
experience needs not be the same.
And, they were not!
Conclusion:
SR remains correct but one needs to be careful on making
claims which are consistent with SRs assumptions.
Another Example: The Twin Paradox
t
x (outgoing)
6.6yrs
Note: Astrid changes his inertial
reference frame at turning pt
turning pt
21 yrs
x (incoming)
2. Earthas ages significantly
according to Astrid as she
switches her reference frame
(here is the deceleration-
acceleration effect)
2.1yrs
1. Time dilation is symmetric
before Astrid switches his ref
frame:
-Eartha will see Astrids clock
dilates from 6.6yrs to 21 yrs
-Astrid will equivalently see
Eartha clock dilates from
2.1yrs to 6.6yrs
(with the same factor)
1 c =
Lorentz Coordinate Transformation
Transforming the space-time coordinates from S to S correctly according to SR.
( , , , ) ( ', ', ', ') x y z t x y z t
u in x-dir only.
Lorentz Transformation
2
' ( )
'
' '
'
x x ut
y y
S S z z
u
t t x
c

| |

=
|

\ .

2
( ' ')
'
' '
' '
x x ut
y y
S S z z
u
t t x
c

= +

| |

= +
|

\ .

Since O and O are in constant relative motion, the physical

description and coordinate transformation between them should be
symmetric !
with u -u
Lorentz Transformation (derivation)
Assume a modification of the Galilean Transformation by a linear factor (u):
( ' ') x x ut = +
Since S and S are in relative motion, we should have a symmetric equation
for x with u -u,
' ( ) x x ut =
Now, set both S and S to coincide with each other at the origin at t =t=0
and a light pulse is initiated at that time.
Lorentz Transformation (derivation)
Substitute these into the previous equations, we have:
in S
is thes in both frames!
' ' i
ame
n S'
x ct
c
x ct
=

`
=
)
( ' ') ( ) ' ct ct ut c u t = + = +
' ( ) ct ct ut =
Substitute t from the bottom equation to the top equation, we have:
c t ( ) ( ) c u c u t
c

= +
2 2 2 2
( ) c c u
| |
|
\ .
=
2
2
2
2 2 2 2
2
1
1
1
1
c
c u u c
u c

= =

=

(the desired factor)

After a time t in S and a corresponding t in S,
( ' ')
' ( )
x x ut
x x ut

= +


`
=
)
Lorentz Transformation (derivation)
One can also try to eliminate the x variable in the original two equations:
( ' ') x x ut = +
' ( ) x x ut =
2 2
2 2
2 2
2
' ( )
' ' '
' ( 1) '
( ' ')
1 1
' ' ' '
x ut
x x ut ut
ut ut x
t t x t x
u u
x ut

=
= +
= +
| |
= + = +

\
+
|
.
Consider the factor on the RHS of the expression,
2
2
2 2
2 2 2 2
1
1
c c
c u
u c c u
= = =

Lorentz Transformation (derivation)
2 2 2 2 2
2
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1
c c c u u
c u c u c u

+
= = =

2
2
2
1 u
u

=
2 2
c u
2 2
c u
2
1
c u
| |
|
|
\ .
2
u
c
=
More algebra,
2
2
2
1
' ' ' '
u
u
t t x t x
c

| |
| |
= + = +
| |
\ .
\ .

(the desired Lorentz Transform in time)

Lorentz Transformation
2
' ( )
'
' '
'
x x ut
y y
S S z z
u
t t x
c

| |

=
|

\ .

2
( ' ')
'
' '
' '
x x ut
y y
S S z z
u
t t x
c

= +

| |

= +
|

\ .

Lorentz Transformation
Reduction back to Galilean Transformation in the regime: u <<c.
For
2 2
1
1 1
1
u
c
u c
<< = ~

( )
2
' 1
' 1
x x ut x ut
u
t t x
c
~ =
= t

| |

=
|

\ .

(Galilean Transformation)
Einstein Relativity is more general and it reduces to previous results
(Galilean) in the u <<c limit.
Intervals between Two Events
We have defined Lorentz Transformation for an event P. Now, we want
to extend it to a space-time interval (Ax, At) between two events:
1
Ax
x
t
S
2
At
x
t
S
1
2
Ax
At
Events 1 and 2 will
have different
coordinates for
different observers O
and O.
2 1 2 1
2 1 2 1
,
' ' ' , ' ' '
x x x t t t
x x x t t t
A = A =
A = A =
In general,
'
'
x x and
t t
A = A
A = A
Intervals between Two Events
By direct substitution, we have the following transform for intervals between
two events:
( )
2
' '
' '
x x u t
u
t t x
c

A = A + A

| |
A = A + A
|

\ .

or,
( )
2
' '
' '
dx dx udt
u
dt dt dx
c

= +

| |
= +
|

\ .

for differential changes

Note: One can show that the combination
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
' ' ' ds dx dt ds c c dx dt = = =
is the same (invariant) for all inertial observation.
Time Dilation (Revisit)
In S-frame, consider two clicks (1 & 2) of a clock stationary in S.
- these two events occur at the same place (x
1
=x
2
, Ax =0) but
at different time ( ).
1 2
' ' , ' 0 t t t = A =
According to S-frame,
2 1
2
' '
u
t t t t x
c
= A = A + A ' t
| |
= A
|
\ .
Since the two clicks occurs stationary in S, At is the proper time, At
0
=At.
0
t t A = A
So, the time interval measurement in S-frame is time dilated.
Simultaneity (Revisit)
In S-frame, let consider two events 1 & 2 at two different
locations: happening at the same time so that
Then, in S-frame, these two events will be separated by the
following time interval:
1 2
' ' , ' 0 x x x = A =
Thus, event 1 and 2 are not happening at the same time (simultaneous)
in S-frame !
' 0, ' 0 x t A = A =
2 1
' t t t t = A = A
2
'
u
x
c
| |
+ A
|
\ .
2
' 0!
u
t x
c
A = A =
Length Construction (Revisit)
Consider a ruler at rest in S-frame so that its length between the
two end points is given by Ax =L
0
(the proper length).
' x x u t A = A A
( )
0
x
L L

= A
=
An observer in S-frame measures the ends of this ruler at the same time
according to his/her own clock (At =0). Let say that O measure a length of
Ax =L in S-frame. From Lorentz Transformation, we have,
This is the length contraction formula.
Notes on Length Contraction
x
t
x
t
1
2
2*
L
0
L
O measure L bet 1 and 2*
O measure L
0
bet 1 and 2
Ruler is stationary in S
Length Measurement using Laser
t
x
t
1
2
2*
L
0
L
laser signal
P
R
In O frame, laser reflects from
the mirror at R and since P is half
way between the leaving event
(1) and arriving-back event (3) of
the laser, O interprets P being
simultaneous with R.
3
uAt
1
uAt
2
InO frame, the distance for laser
light to travel to mirror is
1
L u t + A
and the distance for laser light to
return is
2
L u t A
L
Lorentz Velocity Transformation
InS- frame, let say that we have an object moving in the x-direction with
speed,
x
dx
v
dt
=
Note:
u relative speed
between S and S
v
x
speed of object
S S
u

x
v

Lorentz Velocity Transformation

Lorentz Transform gives:
( )
2
' '
' '
dx dx udt
u
dt dt dx
c

= +

| |
= +
|

\ .

x
v

=
2 2
'
' ' 1/ '
'
'
1/ '
' ' 1
'
dx
u
dx udt dt
dt
u u dx
dt
dt dx
c c dt
+
+
| |
=
|
\ .
+ +
Lorentz Velocity Transformation
In S - frame, the velocity of the object is measured as,
'
'
'
x
dx
v
dt
=
This then gives,
2
'
1 '
x
x
x
v u
v
u
v
c
+
=
+
(Lorentz Velocity Transformation)
Slow relative speed (u <<c):
/ 1 u c <<
'
'
1 0
x
x x
v u
v v u
+
~ = +
+
(Galilean Velocity Transform)
Object moving at the speed of light:
( )
2
1
1
1
x
c u c
c u
v c
u
u c
c
c
+
+
= = =
+
+
'
x
v c =
(c is the same in all frames)
Lorentz Velocity Transformation
If the object has velocity components in y and z directions: v
y
& v
z
, how
would these components transform (u is in x direction only)?
2 2
'
' 1/ '
'
'
1/ '
' ' 1
'
y
dy
dy dy dt
dt
v
u u dx
dt dt
dt dx
c c dt

| |
= = =
|
| | | |
\ .
+ +
| |
\ . \ .
2
'
1 '
y
y
x
v
v
u
v
c

=
| |
+
|
\ .
Similarly for the z-component !
Inverse Lorentz Velocity Transform
From the principle of relativity, there should be no physical distinction for
the two inertial observers in relative motion.
So the Lorentz Velocity Transform equation and its inverse transform
should have the same form but with u -u for the inverse transform of v
in term of v.
2
2
'
1
'
1
x
x
x
y
y
x
v u
v
u
v
c
v
v
u
v
c

| |

\ .

2
2
'
1 '
'
1 '
x
x
x
y
y
x
v u
v
u
v
c
v
v
u
v
c

| |
+
|

\ .