The electric and magnetic fields E,B in an inertial frame S are related to the fields E′,B′ in a frame S′ by a Lorentz transformation. Given that S′ moves in the x-direction with speed v relative to S, and that
Ey′=γ(Ey−vBz),Bz′=γ(Bz−(v/c2)Ey),
write down equations relating the remaining field components and define γ. Use your answers to show directly that E′⋅B′=E⋅B.
Give an expression for an additional, independent, Lorentz-invariant function of the fields, and check that it is invariant for the special case when Ey=E and By=B are the only non-zero components in the frame S.
Now suppose in addition that cB=λE with λ a non-zero constant. Show that the angle θ between the electric and magnetic fields in S′ is given by
cosθ=f(β)={(1+λ2β2)(λ2+β2)}1/2λ(1−β2)
where β=v/c. By considering the behaviour of f(β) as β approaches its limiting values, show that the relative velocity of the frames can be chosen so that the angle takes any value in one of the ranges 0⩽θ<π/2 or π/2<θ⩽π, depending on the sign of λ.