Special Relativity I

Naufal Raihan Saputra a bored physicist

January 2024

Referring to the failure of the Galilean transformation where a particle can move beyond the
speed of light, which contradicts Einstein’s postulate that no speed can exceed the speed of light.
This is demonstrated in the following illustration:

1. A human stands still on Earth (remaining completely stationary, just standing), observing a
rocket moving at a speed of 0.9 C. The rocket then launches a missile with a speed of 0.4
C according to its pilot. Now, the question is, what is the speed of the rocket according to
an observer on Earth?

Referring to the Galilean transformation, we can determine the velocity of the rocket using the
following equation:
va = vRocket + vMissile = 0.9C + 0.4C = 1.3 C
It means that the missile is moving faster than light, violating Einstein’s postulate. To explain
this, the Galilean transformation is refined by the introduction of the Lorentz transformation.

1. Galilean Transformation

Figure 1: Transformation

Now, let’s assume that O′ is moving with a velocity v toward the target ’event’.

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We can conclude and express the illustration in the following equations:

1. The value of the distance between O and Event is x:

x = x′ + vt (1)

2. The value of the distance between O′ and Event is x′ :

x′ = x − vt (2)

3. Referring to the Galilean transformation, which states that t′ is equal to t:

t′ = t (3)

4. All objects are moving only along the x-axis, therefore:

y = y′ (4)
′
z=z (5)

Now, assume that the ’event’ is moving along with O′

Figure 2: Transformation

We can conclude and express the illustration in the following equations:

1. The Distance between O′ and Event is :

x′ = 0 (6)

2. The Distance between O and Event is :

x=v×t (7)

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 2. Lorentz Transformation

Between the Galilean transform and the Lorentz transform, they operate in a similar manner.

1. Because the only variables that change during the ’event’ are time and linear motion along
the X-axis we must use matrix in order to do a transformation
 ′    
x A B x
= × (8)
t′ C D t
x′ = Ax + Bt (9)
′
t = Cx + Dt (10)

2. now subtitute (9) with x′ = 0 and x = v × t

x′ = Ax + Bt
0 = A(v × t) + Bt
B = −Av (11)

3. subtitute (9) with (11)

x′ = Ax + Bt
x′ = Ax − Avt
x′ = A(x − vt) (12)

4. Referring to Einstein’s second postulate, which explains that the speed of light is always
constant.
dx dx′
= ′ = ±c (13)
dt dt

5. subtitute (13) with (9) and (10) :

dx × dt′ = dx′ × dt
dx(dCx + dDt) = dt(dAx + dBt)
d2 Cx2 + d2 Dtx = d2 Atx + d2 t2 B
Cx2 + (D − A)tx − Bt2 = 0 (14)

6. now subtitute (14) with x = ±c × t

A. if c is positive

Cx2 + (D − A)tx − Bt2 = 0

C(c2 t2 ) + (D − A)(ct2 ) − Bt2 = 0
C(c2 ) + (D − A)c + Av = 0 (15)

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B. if c is negative

Cx2 + (D − A)tx − Bt2 = 0

C(c2 t2 ) − (D − A)(ct2 ) − Bt2 = 0
C(c2 ) − (D − A)c + Av = 0 (16)

7. now, eliminate (15) and (16)

C(c2 ) + (D − A)c + Av = 0
C(c2 ) − (D − A)c + Av = 0 —
2(D − A)c = 0
D=A (17)

8. We can use either equation (16) or (15), and substitute it with (17).

C(c2 ) − (D − A)c + Av = 0
C(c2 ) + Av = 0
Av
C=− (18)
c2

9. now, substitute (10) with (18) and (17)

t′ = Cx + Dt
 
′ Avx
t =− + At
c2
 vx 
t′ = A t − 2 (19)
c
Now, let’s switch to a different perspective, where O′ is stationary, but O is moving in X-axis
with v Velocity

Figure 3: Transformation

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 referring to the new illustration. now the equation has changed :

10. Since the variables that change are x and t, the transformation in effect now is not x’ and t’.
     ′
x A B x
= × ′
t C D t
x = Ax′ + Bt′ (20)
′ ′
t = Cx + Dt (21)

11. Referring to (20) and the dirrection of v is negative :

B = −Av
B = Av (22)

12. substitute (20) with (22),(12) and (19)

x = Ax′ + Bt′
 
Avx
x = A(Ax − Avt) + (Av) At − 2
c
 2 2 
A v x
x = A2 x − A2 vt + A2 vt −
c2
 2 2 
A v x
x = A2 x −
c2
 2 2
A v
1 = A2 −
c2
v2
 
2
1=A 1− 2
c
1
A= q (23)
2
1 − vc2

Here, ’A’ is commonly known as the Lorentz factor, denoted by γ

A=γ (24)

Referring to the Lorentz factor, we can derive several equations by substituting the Lorentz
factor.

13. first one, we can derivate x′ :

x′ = A(x − vt)
x′ = γ(x − vt) (25)

14. we can derivate t′ also :

 vx 
t′ = A t − 2
c
′
 vx 
t =γ t− 2 (26)
c

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15. now, we can derivate (25) and (26) to make new equation :

dx′ γ(dx − vdt)

′
=
γ dt − vdx


dt c2
dx vdt


′ dt − dt
vx = dt vdx


dt − 2
c dt
′ vx − v
vx = (27)
1 − v×vc2
x

16. we can transform it into :

vx′ + v
vx = vx′ ×v
(28)
1+ c2

Now, let’s fix the answer to our main problem (1).

1 A human stands still on Earth (remaining completely stationary, just standing), observing a
rocket moving at a speed of 0.9 C. The rocket then launches a missile with a speed of 0.4 C
according to its pilot. Now, the question is, what is the speed of the rocket according to an
observer on Earth?
vx′ + v
vx = ′
1 + v×v
c2
x

0, 4C + 0, 9C
vx =
1 + 0,4C×0,9C
c2
1, 3C
vx =
1, 36
vx ≈ 0, 955..C

The solution to the problem does not violate any rules especially einstein postulat. This means
that the equations we obtained are correct, and simultaneously, we have derived equations
regarding relativistic velocity

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 2 Time Dilatation
Now, i have illustration :

Figure 4: Time dilatation

The time required from Event 1 to Event 2 is denoted as ∆t, and it will have the same value
according to both observers, O’ or O.

∆t = t2 − t1 (29)
′
∆t = t′2 − t′1 (30)

17. we can substitute (30) with (26) :

∆t′ = t′2 − t′1

 vx   vx 
∆t′ = γ t2 − 2 − γ t1 − 2
c c
∆t′ = γ (t2 − t1 )
∆t′ = γ∆t (31)

(31) is the final equation of time dilatation.

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 3 Length Contraction
for Length contraction, actually it has same illustration with time dilatation:

Figure 5: Length Contraction

The distance required from Event 1 to Event 2 is denoted as ∆X, and it will have the same
value according to both observers, O’ and O.

∆x = x2 − x1 (32)
′
∆x = x′2 − x′1 (33)

18. we can substitute (33) with (25)

x′ = x′2 − x′1
x′ = γ(x2 − vt) − γ(x1 − vt)
x′ = γ(x2 − x1 )
x′ = γ∆x (34)

(34) is the final equation of length contraction.

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4 Mass Relativity
In the theory of special relativity, mass is also relative and depends on the observer. And it
can be demonstrated through the Lorentz transformation :
Assume that an observer inside a rocket (O′ ), moving at a speed approaching the speed of
light, is observing two particles colliding and coming to rest. Meanwhile, there is an observer
on Earth also observing these two particles.
This is an illustration of what the observer inside the rocket would observe.

Figure 6: Illustration 1

According to observer in the rocket (O′ ), both particles come to a stop. However, what are
the observations from the perspective of an observer on Earth (O)?
This is the illustration of what the observer on the Earth would observe.

Figure 7: Illustration 2

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 Referring to both illustrations and the law of conservation of momentum, we can formulate
an equation :

a . According to O′ Observer :

m′ v ′ − m′ v ′ = 0 (35)

b . According to O′ Observer :

m1 v1 + m2 v2 = (m1 + m2 )v (36)

When both particles are in motion, their velocities are relative. Therefore, we can express it
as follows:
v′ + v
v1 = ′ (37)
1 + v c×v
2

and
−v ′ + v
v2 = ′ (38)
1 − v c×v
2

19. we can substitute (36) with (37) and (38)

m1 v1 + m2 v2 = (m1 + m2 )v
! !
v′ + v −v ′ + v
m1 ′ + m2 ′ = m1 v + m2 v
1 + v c×v
2 1 − v c×v
2

(39)

v′ × v
20. To simplify the derivation of the formula, we can use a substitution. assume that is
c2
equal to b :
 ′   ′ 
v +v −v + v
m1 − m1 v = m2 v − m2
1+b 1−b
 ′    ′ 
v +v −v + v
m1 − v = m2 v −
1+b 1−b
 ′
v − vb + v ′ − v
  
v + v − v − vb
m1 = m2
1+b 1−b
 ′   ′ 
v − vb v − vb
m1 = m2
1+b 1−b
m1 m2
=
1+b 1−b
m1 1+b
=
m2 1−b
′
m1 1 + v c×v2
= v ′ ×v (40)
m2 1 − c2

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21. according to lorentz transformation :
!2
v2 1 v′ + v
1 − 21 = 1 − 2 ′
c c 1 + v c×v
2
! !
v2 1 v′ + v v′ + v
1 − 21 = 2 c+ ′ c− ′
c c 1 + v c×v
2 1 + v c×v
2

v ′ ×v v ′ ×v
! !
′ ′
v2 1 v +v+c+ c −v − v + c +
1 − 21 = 2 v ′ ×v v ′ ×v
c
c c 1+ c2
1+ c2

!
!
v2 1 (c + v) + v′ 1+ v
(c − v) − v ′ 1 − v
1 − 21 = 2 v ′ ×v
c
v ′ ×v
c
(41)
c c 1+ c2
1+ c2

22. factorize the equation :

!
!
v
+ v′ 1 + v v
− v′ 1 − v



v2 1 c 1+ c 1−
1 − 21 = 2 c
v ′ ×v
c c
v ′ ×v
c
c c 1+ c2
1+ c2
! !
v12 1 (c + v ′ )(1 + vc ) (c − v ′ )(1 − vc )
1− 2
= 2 v ′ ×v v ′ ×v
c c 1 + c2 1+ c2
2
!
v12 1 (c2 − v ′2 )(1 − vc2 )
1− 2
= 2 ′
2
c c 1 + v c×v 2
′2 2
!
v12 (1 − vc2 )(1 − vc2 )
1− =
2 (42)
c2 ′
1 + v c×v2

23. the equation has similarity with :

v ′2 2
!
v2 (1 − c2
)(1 − vc2 )
1 − 22 = ′
2 (43)
c 1 − v c×v 2

24. Now, we can try divided (42) by (43)

  2 
v12 v ′2 v2 v ′ ×v
1 − c2 (1 − c2
)(1 − c2
) 1 − c2
=
 
v22 ′
v ×v

2 v ′2 v2

1 − c2 1 + c2 (1 − c2 )(1 − c2 )
v2 ′
!
1 − c21 (1 − v c×v2 )
2
= ′ (44)
v2
1 − c22 (1 + v c×v2 )
2

25. according to (40), we can substitute the (44).

v
2
u 1 − v21
u
c m2
t
v22
=
1− m1
c2
(45)

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26. referring to (45) and ’figure 7 ’, we can the conclusion that :

1 v1 = v2

2 m1 = m2

3 v2 = 0 → m2 = mo

4 v1 = v → m1 = m
q
v12
1− m2
c2
=
1−0 m1
m0
m= q
v2
1− c2
m = m0 × γ (46)

(46) is the mass relativity equations.

If mass is relative, does that mean everything related to mass is also relative? Such as force,
momentum, work, and other derivatives?

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