Einstein Velocity Addition

The Einstein velocity relationship transforms a measured velocity as seen in one inertial frame of reference (u) to the velocity as measured in a frame moving at velocity v with respect to it (u'). In problems involving more than two objects, the main difficulty is the assignment of velocity to all the objects.

If A sees B moving at velocity v, then a velocity measured by B (u') would be seen by A as:

These relationships make perfect sense at low speeds where both denominators approach 1.

Relativistic Relative Velocity

The speed of light is the speed limit of the universe, so it follows that no observer will see any other observer approaching or receding at a speed greater than c. But what if observers A and B are both moving toward each other with speeds approaching c as seen by an external observer? How will A and B measure their relative speeds? This is an example of Einstein velocity addition. In the calculation below, velocities to the right are taken as positive.

Relativistic Projectile

Now if spacecraft A fires a projectile at velocity Vp as measured in A's frame of reference, then the two relevant questions are:

1. How fast will an external observer see the projectile traveling?

2. How fast will B see the projectile approaching?

This is an example of Einstein velocity addition.

If

vA

=

c

and

vP

=

c

then

u

=

c.

Note that for low velocities, this is the simple sum of the velocities of the firing spacecraft and the projectile as seen by that spacecraft.

Now to calculate the approach velocity as seen by the targeted spacecraft B:

If

u(above)

=

c

and

vB

=

c

then

u'

=

c.