SPECIAL RELATIVITY
1. The laws of physics take the same form in all inertial frames.
2. In any inertial frame, the velocity of light c is the same whether the light is emitted by a body at rest or by a body in uniform motion.
PURPOSE
The lorentz transforms and contraction equation form the basis of Einstein's special theory of relativity. They describe the increase in mass, the shortening of length, and the time dialation of bodies moving at speeds close to the velocity of light.
The lorentz transform can also be used to predicted how much time would elapse relative to the particle moving at speeds closed to the velocity of light. (3*10^8 m/s)
The v in the equation stands for the velocity at which the object is moving at. usually it is expessed in %c. c happens to be the universal constant, the speed of light.In the equation above S is the time elapsed relative to the stationary object (usually the earth) and the numerator is acuallty S'(s prime) or time elapsed relative to the particle.
EXAMPLE
Suppose an object is traveling at 80% of the speed of light for 1 year. How long would have elapsed in time relative to the stationary Earth.
Answer
S= 1/sqrt(1-(((.8c))/(c)^2)
S= 1/sqrt(1-((.8))/(1)^2)
S= 1/sqrt(1-.64)
S= 1/.6
S= 1.66667 years
Note:
1. Reaching speeds close to the velocity of light is almost impossible. It would take a tremendous amount of energy to do so. But even if it was possible so, the object traveling at the speed would have condensed due to the shrinkage of the time space continium.
2. Substituting c for v would yeild an error or 1/0. This proves that nothing can reach the speed of light. The object would condense so much that it would not exist.
