I am a math student with some interests in physics. I picked up a book called "A First Course in General Relativity", and I am confused on the second page. I am assuming by notation or convention.
The chapter is on special relativity, and at this point they are just talking about how measurements of velocity are invariant by a constant. That is v′(t)=v(t)−V, where v(t) is a measurement by one observer and v′(t) is a measurement by another observer whose relative velocity to the original is V.
Then it says Newton's second law is unaffected by this replacement. It offers as an explanation, a′−dv′/dt=d(v−V)/dt=dv/dt=a.
I am confused in how this explains anything. Also as I read the notation, shouldn't a′=dv′/dt? So a′−dv′/dt=0. Also the first equality is confusing, since v′=v−V, I thought, so using that replacement I get a′−dv′/dt=a′−d(v−V)/dt.
I assume I am just misunderstanding what is meant by a particular variable. Can anyone help shed some light on my confusion on this point? Thanks.
EDIT
I think I am being confused by a typo, replacing the = with − seems to make things make sense. I probably should have seen that.
a′=dv′/dt=d(v−V)/dt=dv/dt=a.
Answer
I think you are correct that it's simply a typo. Replacing the "-" with an "=" does indeed make the equation make sense.
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