Re: (SR) Lorentz t', x' = Intervals

From: Mich (mich_at_efni.com)
Date: 03/13/05 

Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 17:14:24 -0500

I apologize for not understanding most of your post; I'll try to explain in
greater details my problem.

The Ghost In The Machine <ewill@sirius.athghost7038suus.net> wrote in
message news:7hlbg2-vqk.ln1@sirius.athghost7038suus.net...
> In sci.physics, Mich
> <mich@efni.com>
> wrote
> on Sat, 12 Mar 2005 09:24:22 -0500
> <1135undqvsn52fc@corp.supernews.com>:
> >
> > The Ghost In The Machine <ewill@sirius.athghost7038suus.net> wrote in
> > message news:k7kvf2-7ad.ln1@sirius.athghost7038suus.net...
> >> In sci.physics, eleaticus
> >> <eleaticus@bellsouth.net>
> >
> >> > -----------------------------------
> >> > Einstein initiates his process by asserting four basic equations and
> >> > adds a fifth in his process:
> >> >
> >> > x = ct
> >> > x = -ct
> >> > x = vt
> >> >
> >> > x' = ct'
> >> > x' = -ct'
> >>
> >> OK, we have x, t, x', t', as variables, and c and v as constants.

> All values are scalars, though if you like one can move into the
> vector realm by replacing x with X or P (don't use 'p'; that's too
> easily confused with momentum :-) ).

     I think that I understand x to be a scalar if it is to mean a distance,
identifying a negative
distance as being illogical. However, if x is a product of a velocity, not
speed, then it ought to be specified as a displacement, and not only a
distance, it seems.
    The + or - sign in front of a velocity vector simply indicates the
direction of travel,and could therefore simply mean east or west. The same
could be said for the displacement, where -x could mean the point at
distance x (west) from the observer and + x meaning the point at distance x
(east) from the observer.
   So in the above equations, I would it understand better if x = ct and -x
= -ct. As it stands, I don't understand the meaning of the equation.

   I will cut the rest of your post so as not to venture too quickly before
understanding the basics.

Thank you for your reply
Andre
.

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