Force Transformation Rules

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The differential version of the Lorentz transformation is

The x component of force is defined as 

The first part of the term on the right is easily evaluated

The second part of Eq. (2) is found by substituting in the expression for p’x from the momentum transformation rule

where that E is the inertial energy of the particle. With these value Eq. (2) becomes

To evaluate dE/dt we take the time derivative of the energy momentum relation E2c2p·p= E02.

Substitute E = m c2, p = mu and f º dp/dt to give

Canceling the 2mc2 term in Eq. (7) gives dE/dt which was what we wanted

Substituting this result and dpx/dt = fx into Eq. (5) to give the final result

The y and z components of the force are much easier to find since the corresponding components of momentum remain unchanged upon transformation, i.e. py =py, and pz = pz. Therefore

Summary:


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