How do we understand
Galilean principle of relativity mathematically?
Ans: Make use of the
Galilean transformation.
Well, that’s the simplest
answer. The problem of the Galilean relativity is, connecting the two inertial
frames of reference so that the mechanical
law of physics is the same in both the frame concerned.
So,
how do we do it? Here’s one of the following ways,
Fig. 1: Reference frame $S$
and ${S}'$
Suppose there are two
reference frames (systems) designated by $S$ and ${S}'$ such that the co-ordinate
axes are parallel (as in figure). In S, we have the co-ordinates $(x,y,z,t)$ and
in ${S}'$ we have the co-ordinates $({x}', {y}',{z}',{t}')$. ${S}'$ is moving with respect to $S$ with
velocity $v$ (as measured in $S$) in the $x$ direction. The clocks in both systems were synchronised at
time $t=0$ and they run at the same rate.
One can clearly see
that the position of the ${S}'$ frame as seen from the $S$ changes as the time passes and
vice-versa. But how do we transform the coordinate of the ${S}'$ frame so that
the mechanical laws of physics seems exactly as same a that observed in the $S$
frame of reference.
It is found that the following simple
transformation does the job.
${x}'=x-vt$
${y}'=y$
${z}'=z$
${t}'=t$
And, these set of equations
is called the Galilean Transformation.
It is important to note
here that, we have assumed that the
two clocks are set to agree with each other, and that the origin of the two
frames are at the same point when ${t}'=t=0$. Using this relation, we can then translate the observations of the observer in inertial
frame $S$ to that of the observer in inertial frame ${S}'$,
and vice versa.
Does this really work? I mean do these transformation really preserve the invariance of laws of physics?
You can try out the
following sequence of logic to decide for yourself.
“Consider two inertial frames $S$ and ${S}'$.
A physical event in $S$ will have position coordinates $r=(x,y,z)$ and time $t$; similarly
for ${S}'$. By using the universal
time concept, one can synchronize the clock in the two frames and assume $t={t}'$.
Suppose ${S}'$ is in relative uniform motion to $S$ with
velocity $v$. Consider a point object whose position is given by $r=r(t)$ in $S$. We see that
$r^{‘}(t)=r(t)-vt$.
The velocity of the particle is given by the
time derivative of the position:
Another differentiation gives the acceleration in the two frames:
It is this simple but crucial result that
implies Galilean relativity. Assuming that mass is invariant in all inertial
frames, the above equation shows Newton's laws of mechanics, if valid in one
frame, must hold for all frames. But it is assumed to hold in absolute space,
therefore Galilean relativity holds." wiki
To conclude, Galilean relativity as in words of the Galilean transformation can be fancifully restated as:
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