Galilean Diagram of Moving Frames

This section presents a single diagram that represents a moving frame overlaid on a stationary frame. The time axis of the moving frame is rotated towards the moving direction.

In previous section, we presented Bob's frame and Amy's frame as separate diagrams. We can also overlay both frames in a single diagram and keep the current location of object O overlapped as a single point:

Orthogonal Diagram for Galilean Transformation
Orthogonal Diagram for Galilean Transformation

In the above diagram, coordinates of both frames are maintained as orthogonal coordinate systems. The origin of the Amy's frame in blue color is moving at a speed of v. The Galilean transformation is clearly presented by looking at the difference of distances from object O to t axis and t' axis.

However, world lines of Amy, Bob and object O are presented with different lines for different frames. We can also revise the diagram to simplify those world lines by:

Galilean Diagram - Time Axis Rotated
Galilean Diagram - Time Axis Rotated

As you can see, now world lines of Amy, Bob and object O are perfectly identical in both frames. The Galilean transformation between two frames is clearly presented in a single simple diagram. Let's call it Galilean diagram.

The only downside of the Galilean diagram is that t' axis is no longer orthogonal to x' and t' has a different scale than t.

To determine the coordinates (X',T') of an event in (x',t') frame, we have to:

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction of Space

 Introduction of Frame of Reference

 Introduction of Time

 Introduction of Speed

 Newton's Laws of Motion

 Introduction of Special Relativity

 Time Dilation in Special Relativity

 Length Contraction in Special Relativity

 The Relativity of Simultaneity

Introduction of Spacetime

 What Is Spacetime

 What Is World Line

 What Is Light Cone

 Moving Frames and Galilean Transformation

Galilean Diagram of Moving Frames

 Minkowski Spacetime and Diagrams

 Introduction of Hamiltonian

 Introduction of Lagrangian

 Introduction of Generalized Coordinates

 Phase Space and Phase Portrait

 References

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