Alternative proofs for Kocik's geometric diagram for relativistic velocity addition
If a train is moving at speed \(u\) with respect to the ground and a person P is running with a speed \(v\) on the train, then the speed of the person P observed by someone on the ground is \(u\oplus v=(u+v)/(1+uv)\) in units in which the speed of light is 1. \textit{J. Kocik} gave a geometric diagram to construct \(u\oplus v\) with a proof using Cartesian coordinate [``Geometric diagram for relativistic addition of velocities, Am. J. Phys. 80, No. 8, 737--739 (2012; \url{doi:10.1119/1.4730931})]: Draw a circle of radius 1 with center \(O\). Mark points \(U\), \(V\) at distances \(u\), \(v\) from \(O\) along the radius \(OC\) perpendicular to a diameter \(AB\). If the lines \(BV\) and \(AU\) meet the circle again in points \(V'\), \(U'\), respectively, then \(u\oplus v = OW\), where \(W\) is the point of intersection of \(U'V'\) and \(OC\). In this paper, the authors show that \(u\oplus v\approx u+v\) if \(0\leq u,v\ll 1\) using the same diagram and give three alternative proofs of Kocik's result, which are trigonometric, Euclidean geometric and projective geometric.
- From Pappus to Kocik's diagram for relativistic velocity addition
- A common characterization of classical and relativistic addition
- Hyperbolic trigonometry in the Einstein relativistic velocity model of hyperbolic geometry
- Relativistic combination of any number of collinear velocities and generalization of Einstein's formula
- A characterization of relativistic addition
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