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Time Dilation and Relativity Problems

1) This document contains sample problems and solutions from a course on modern physics for teachers. 2) The first problem involves time dilation - calculating how long a particle lives according to an observer if it moves at 0.950c. 3) The second problem determines the speed an object must move to appear length contracted to half its proper length. 4) The third problem correctly uses relativistic velocity addition to calculate the speed of a missile fired from a spaceship moving at 0.80c, as seen by an observer on Earth.

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131 views7 pages

Time Dilation and Relativity Problems

1) This document contains sample problems and solutions from a course on modern physics for teachers. 2) The first problem involves time dilation - calculating how long a particle lives according to an observer if it moves at 0.950c. 3) The second problem determines the speed an object must move to appear length contracted to half its proper length. 4) The third problem correctly uses relativistic velocity addition to calculate the speed of a missile fired from a spaceship moving at 0.80c, as seen by an observer on Earth.

Uploaded by

diamantechennie
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

Sample Problems
Special Theory of Relativity
Instructor: Mr. Kim Diate

Problem 1 - Consequence of A.E’s Postulate -Time Dilation


The proper lifetime of a certain particle is 120.0 ns.

Solution
a. How long does it live in the laboratory if it moves at v = 0.950c?
• Recall that the proper time (t0 ) is always given by the time measured on the frame of reference
that is moving with respect to the stationary observer on Earth.
• From the equation for time dilation, we have to solve for ∆t. This is the time measured by
the stationary observer on the laboratory.
s
1
∆t = ∆t0 2
1 − vc2

s
1
∆t = ∆t0 2
1 − vc2
s
1
∆t = (120 ns) (0.950c)2
1− c2
s
1
∆t = (120x10−9 s) (0.950)2 (c)2
1− c2
v
u 1
∆t = (120x10−9 s)t
u
(0.950)2 2)
(c
1− 2
c
s
1
∆t = (120x10−9 s)
1 − (0.950)2

∆t = 3.84x10−7 s or 384 ns

b. How far does it travel in the laboratory during that time?

• The distance it travelled in the laboratory will make use of its time as measured in the
laboratory (i.e., 384 ns).

d
v=
t
d = vt
d = (0.950c)(384 ns)
m
d = (0.950)(3x108 )(384x10−9 s)
s
d = 109.44 m.

d = 109.44 m.

MSU-IIT College of Education - Department of Science and Mathematics Education 1


SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

c. What is the distance travelled in the laboratory according to an observer moving with the
particle?

• The distance travelled in the laboratory according to the observer that is moving with the
particle is based on his/her measured time or lifetime of the particle (i.e., 120 ns ).

d0
v=
t0
d0 = vt0
d0 = (0.950c)(120 ns)
m
d0 = (0.950)(3x108 )(120x10−9 s)
s
d0 = 34.2 m.

d0 = 34.2 m.

Problem 2 - Consequence of A.E’s Postulate -Length Contrac-


tion
How fast must an object move before its length appears to be contracted to one-half its proper
length?

Solution
• Recall that the equation describing the contraction of length when dealing with relativistic
speeds (speeds that are a fraction of the speed of light (c)) is given by
r
v2
L = Lo 1−
c2
• The problem asks us to find the velocity (v) such that the length (L) is half of the proper
length (L0 ).
1
L = L0
2

r
v2
L = L0 1− 2
c
r !2
v2
L2 = (L0 )2 1− 2
c
v2
L2 = (L0 )2 (1 − )
c2

Divide both sides by L20

L2 v2
= (1 − )
L20 c2
L2 c2 − v 2
= ( )
(L20 c2

Multiply both sides of the equation by c2

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SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

L2
c2 · = c2 − v 2
L20
L2
v 2 = c2 − c2 ·
L20

Factor out c2 .

L2
 
2 2
v =c 1− 2
L
s  0 
L2
v = c2 1 − 2
L0
s 
L2
v =c 1− 2
L0
s
( 12 · L0 )2

v =c 1−
L20
r
1
v =c 1−
4
r
3
v =c
4

r
3 m
v= c or 2.60x108
4 s

Problem 3 - Relativistic Addition of Velocity


A spaceship moving away from Earth at a speed of 0.80c fires a missile parallel to its direction
of motion. The missile moves at a speed of 0.600c relative to the ship. What is the speed of the
missile as measured by and observer on Earth?

If we impose the classical addition of velocity

v = v′ + u
We have,

v = v′ + u
v = 0.60c + 0.80c
v = 1.40 c

This is clearly NOT allowed since the observer on the Earth measures a speed that is faster
than light.

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SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

If we use the relativistic addition of velocity, which follows the Lorentz transformation.

v′ + u
v= ′
1 + vc2u
We have,

v′ + u
v= ′
1 + vc2u
0.60c + 0.80c
v=  
(0.60c)(0.80c)
1+ c2
1.40c
v=  2)

(c
(0.60)(0.80)
1+
c2
v = 0.95c

v = 0.95c.
The observer on the Earth measures the missile to move at 0.95c.

Problem 4 - Lorentz Transformation


Two events occur at locations separated by a distance of 49.5 m and by a time interval of 0.528
µs, according to observer O. Observer O’ is in motion away from O with a speed of 0.685c in the
x direction. According to O’, what are the spatial and time separations of the events?

Solution
Given:
x = 49.5 m
t = 0.528 µs or 0.528 x 10−6 s
u = 0.685c

A. According to O’, what are the spatial separation of the events (x’)?

x − ut
x′ = q
2
1 − uc2
49.5 m − (0.685c)(0.528µs)
x′ = q
2
1 − (0.685c)
c2
49.5 m − (0.685c)(0.528x10−6 s)
x′ = q
2)
2 (c
1 − (0.6852 )
c
′
x = −80.99 m

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SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

x′ = −80.99 m
B. According to O’, what are the time separation of the events (t’)?

′ t − ( cu2 )x
t = q
2
1 − uc2

′ 0.528µs − ( 0.685c
c2
)(49.5 m)
t = q
2
1 − (0.685c)
c2

0.528µs − ( 0.685 )(49.5 m)


t′ = q c
2)
2 (c
1 − (0.685)2 
c
 
0.528x10−6 s − 3x10 0.685
8m (49.5 m)
t′ = q s
2)
2 (c
1 − (0.685)2 
c
−6 0.685
0.528x10 s − ( 3x108 m
)(49.5 m)
t′ = √ s

1 − 0.6852
t′ = 0.570µs

t′ = 0.570µs

Problem 5 - Relativistic Dynamics


According to observer O, a certain particle has a momentum of 1,256 MeV/c and a total
relativistic energy of 1,351 MeV.

Solution
a. What is the rest energy of this particle?
Given:
p = 1, 256 M eV /c
Etot = 1, 351 M eV

The rest energy (E0 ) and total energy Etot is given by the equations:

E0 = mc2 ← [Equation1]
p
Etot = (pc)2 + (mc2 )2 ← [Equation2]

Thus, Equation 2 can also be written as


p
Etot = (pc)2 + (E0 )2

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SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

Manipulating this equation to isolate E0 results to

p
Etot = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
hp i2
[Etot ]2 = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
(Etot )2 = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
(E0 )2 = (Etot )2 − (pc)2
p
E0 = (Etot )2 − (pc)2
s   2
1, 256 M eV
E0 = (1, 351 M eV )2 − (c)
c
s   2
1, 256 M eV
E0 = (1, 351 M eV − )2 (c)
c 
p
E0 = (1, 351 M eV )2 − (1, 256 M eV )2
E0 = 497.66 M eV

E0 = 497.66 M eV

b. An observer O’ in a different frame of reference measures the momentum of this particle to be


857 MeV/c. What does O’ measures for the total relativistic energy of the particle?

Given:

p = 857 MeV/c and E0 = 497.66 MeV

Take note that we can use [Equation 2 ] above. Also, it is important to realize than you can
use the E0 from part a in the frame of reference O, since E0 is the same regardless of the frame of
reference.

p
Etot = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
s  2
M eV
Etot = 857 (c) + (E0 )2
c
s  2
M eV
Etot = 857 (c) + (497.66 M eV )2
c 
p
Etot = (857 M eV )2 + (497.77 M eV )2
Etot = 991.01 M eV

Etot = 991.01 M eV

MSU-IIT College of Education - Department of Science and Mathematics Education 6


SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

Guide Equations

MSU-IIT College of Education - Department of Science and Mathematics Education 7

Common questions

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According to the relativity principle, the proper length is the length of an object measured in the frame in which the object is stationary. Length contraction occurs when this length is measured from a frame where the object is moving; it appears shorter due to Lorentz contraction, calculated by L = L0*sqrt(1-(v^2/c^2)). This effect is a fundamental aspect of how space and time are interwoven in relativity .

The discrepancy is that classical mechanics predicts a velocity sum exceeding the speed of light, which is not possible. Using classical addition (v = v' + u), a missile speed would be 1.40c, exceeding c. The relativistic velocity addition formula, v = (v' + u)/(1 + v'u/c^2), solves this by giving a result of 0.95c, within the limit imposed by the theory of relativity .

The rest energy (E0) is derived from the total energy (Etot) and momentum using the equation E0 = sqrt((Etot)^2 - (pc)^2). For a particle with a total energy of 1,351 MeV and momentum of 1,256 MeV/c, E0 is 497.66 MeV .

The Lorentz transformation relates spacetime separation by translating the position and time coordinates of events as observed in one inertial frame to another moving at a relative velocity. For example, spatial separation x' = x - ut/sqrt(1-u^2/c^2) and time separation t' = t - ux/c^2/sqrt(1-u^2/c^2). An observer moving at 0.685c measures different separations for given spatial (49.5 m) and temporal (0.528 µs) intervals, resulting in x' = -80.99 m and t' = 0.570 µs .

The relativistic effect observed is called time dilation. It is calculated using the time dilation formula Δt = Δt0/sqrt(1-(v^2/c^2)), where Δt0 is the proper time. For a particle with a proper lifetime of 120 ns moving at 0.950c, the time measured by a stationary observer (Δt) is 384 ns .

The velocity at which an object appears to have half its proper length is determined using the length contraction formula L = L0*sqrt(1-(v^2/c^2)). Setting L = 0.5L0, solving for v gives v = c*sqrt(1-(1/4)), which results in a velocity of approximately 2.60x10^8 m/s .

The principle of relativistic velocity addition explains this phenomenon, as velocities combine non-linearly due to the structure of spacetime at high speeds. The formula v = (v' + u)/(1 + v'u/c^2) accounts for relativistic effects, ensuring no resultant velocity exceeds the speed of light. For a spaceship and missile with velocities 0.80c and 0.60c, the measured velocity is 0.95c, not exceeding c, consistent with relativity .

Proper time, measured in the frame where the particle is at rest, underpins understanding of particle lifetimes at relativistic speeds via time dilation. Δt = Δt0/sqrt(1-(v^2/c^2)) illustrates how particles experience time slower compared to stationary observers, extending their apparent lifetime as observed. This impacts experiments, requiring adjustments for relativistic effects when interpreting data from different frames .

Time separation differs for observers in relative motion due to time dilation and relativistic effects encapsulated by the Lorentz transformation. For an event separation of 0.528 µs and 49.5 m, with an observer moving at 0.685c, time separation t' is calculated as t' = (t - u*x/c^2)/sqrt(1-u^2/c^2), resulting in a new time separation of 0.570 µs .

Momentum measurements differ due to velocity differences between reference frames, impacting observed relativistic energy. For a particle with a rest energy of 497.66 MeV, if an observer measures momentum as 857 MeV/c, the total relativistic energy is Etot = sqrt((pc)^2 + (E0)^2), giving 991.01 MeV. This illustrates how relative velocities result in different perceived energies and momenta .

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