[extropy-chat] funky frink function

[Alan Eliasen]

Mike Lorrey wrote:
> Can one do Lorentz transformations in Frink?

    Certainly.  There's no built-in function, but the equation for the 
Lorentz transform can be defined very simply:

Lorentz[v] := 1 / sqrt[1-v^2/c^2]

    You just pass it a velocity less than c.

    And then you can just call it.  To find out the time dilation factor, at 
say, .9 c:

Lorentz[.9 c]

which gives a value of about 2.294.  This is the factor by which clocks slow 
down, lengths are contracted, or masses increase.

    It, of course also works for any velocity:

Lorentz[55 mph]

    Applying this properly to the acceleration problem requires defining 
which observer measures the acceleration, etc, and whose clock we're looking 
at.  Another exercise for the reader?

-- 

   Alan Eliasen                 | "Whenever you find you are on the side of
   eliasen at mindspring.com       |  the majority, it is time to pause and
   http://futureboy.homeip.net/ |  reflect."  --Mark Twain