Module 27: Lorentz Transformation: As an Exotic Rotation—Problem 1
In this problem, you will derive another simplifying feature of working with the rapidity, instead of the velocity . It relies on simple hyperbolic trigonometric identities that mirror those of the ordinary trig functions.
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1. Question
Consider the quantity . By expressing each term as an exponential (, ), simplify the quantity to one of the following four results.
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2. Question
Consider the quantity . By expressing each term as an exponential, simplify the quantity to one of the following four results.
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3. Question
Consider . Using the results of the previous parts of this problem, express this in terms of hyperbolic trigonometric functions that depend only on or separately.
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4. Question
Now for physics: If a rocket is moving northward with rapidity relative to you, and it fires a projectile in the northward direction with rapidity (relative to the rocket), what is the rapidity of the projectile relative to you?