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Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model
written by Wolfgang Christian
The Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model displays Minkowski spacetime diagrams on rotated graph paper.  The worldlines of three inertial observers carrying horizontal light clocks and the resulting clock ticks are drawn.  Each clock consists of two mirrors a constant distance d away from an observer.  The world lines of the clock's light rays form causal diamonds that can be used to count the clock ticks for each observer.  A second window shows the causal diamonds in a second (other) reference frame. 
 
The causal diamond construction (described in detail by Salgado) exploits the following geometrical facts: (1) a rectangle in the grid (with its lightlike sides) has an area proportional to the square-interval8 of its timelike-diagonal, and (2) a Lorentz boost transforms a rectangle in the grid into another rectangle in the grid with a different shape but equal area. These geometrical facts encode properties of the invariant hyperbolas of Minkowski spacetime.
 
The Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model was developed using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the ejs_sr_RelativityOnRotatedGraphPaper.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.  You can modify this simulation if you have EJS installed by right-clicking within the map and selecting "Open Ejs Model" from the pop-up menu item.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java.
1 source code document is available
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Relativity
- Galilean Relativity
- Reference Frames
= Inertial
- Spacetime Fundamentals
= Light
- Special Relativity
= Simultaneity
= Space Contraction
= Time Dilation
- Upper Undergraduate
- Lower Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- Educators
- application/java
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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a GNU General Public License Version 3 license. Additional information is available.
Rights Holder:
Wolfgang Christian
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created November 12, 2011 by Wolfgang Christian
Record Updated:
June 12, 2014 by Andreu Glasmann
Last Update
when Cataloged:
November 12, 2011
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
W. Christian, Computer Program SPECIAL RELATIVITY ON ROTATED GRAPH PAPER MODEL, Version 1.0 (2011), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464).
AJP/PRST-PER
W. Christian, Computer Program SPECIAL RELATIVITY ON ROTATED GRAPH PAPER MODEL, Version 1.0 (2011), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464>.
APA Format
Christian, W. (2011). Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464
Chicago Format
Christian, Wolfgang. "Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464 (accessed 5 December 2024).
MLA Format
Christian, Wolfgang. Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2011. Java 1.5. 5 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Wolfgang Christian", Title = {Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model}, Month = {November}, Year = {2011} }
Refer Export Format

%A Wolfgang Christian %T Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model %D November 12, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %D November 12, 2011 %T Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model %7 1.0 %8 November 12, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11540&DocID=2464


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Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model:

Is Based On Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool

The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model.

relation by Wolfgang Christian

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