Re: Another look at the Lorentz factor.


PD wrote:
Golden Boar wrote:
The Lorentz factor is usually given by the equation:

gamma = 1/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)

or by

beta = v/c
gamma = 1/sqrt(1-beta^2)

The equation can be written in a more intuitive (for me at least) way
as shown below:

gamma = c / sqrt(c^2 - v^2)

I think it would benefit you to see the form of the Lorentz
transformations in terms of hyperbolic transcendental functions, where
gamma = cosh(rapidity),
about as simple as you can get.
Moreover, the rapidity variable is exceeding useful as well as being
more physically fundamental.

See, for example, http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=312518

The important thing to note is that, rather than reading up on things
that have already been done a long long time ago, you are spending your
time futzing with equations to stumble on the work yourself. This in
itself is not a bad thing. Thinking that you've done something original
or of interest to others --- that you'll find people have a lesser
opinion of.

PD

Hey, I didn't say it was original, and as for it not being of interest
to others, I can say without a doubt in my mind, that somebody
somewhere will find it interesteing.

.

Relevant Pages