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Unit 1 Relativity

The document outlines a physics assignment focused on relativity for the semester II of the academic year 2025-26. It includes various problems related to Lorentz transformations, invariance of equations, particle decay, length contraction, and kinetic energy calculations. The assignment requires students to apply concepts of special relativity to solve real-world scenarios involving high-speed particles and their behaviors.

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15 views1 page

Unit 1 Relativity

The document outlines a physics assignment focused on relativity for the semester II of the academic year 2025-26. It includes various problems related to Lorentz transformations, invariance of equations, particle decay, length contraction, and kinetic energy calculations. The assignment requires students to apply concepts of special relativity to solve real-world scenarios involving high-speed particles and their behaviors.

Uploaded by

quindecim0666
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

PHYSICS ASSIGNMENT, SEM-II (2025-26)

UNIT-1 RELATIVITY

1. An observer A is moving with a uniform speed 0.6 c w.r.t another observer B along the
+ve x-axis. An observer O is moving w.r.t A along +ve y-axis with a uniform speed of
0.8 c. An event happens according to observer O at (1m, -2m, 3m, 2 X 10 -8 sec). Use
Gallilean and Lorentz transformation to find the coordinates of this event according to
observers A and B.

2. Show that 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 𝑐 𝑡 = 0 is invariant under Lorentz transformation.


Coordinates of an event are (4mm, 5mm, 1mm, 12pico sec). In another frame the
coordinates are (x, 5mm, 1mm, 8 pico sec). Calculate x, using relativity.

3. A beam of particles of half life 2 × 10 𝑠𝑒𝑐 travels in the laboratory with 0.96 times the
speed of light. How much distance does the beam travel before the flux falls to ½ times
the initial flux?

4. Calculate the length and orientation of a rod of length 5 meter in a frame of reference
moving with a velocity of 0.6 c in a direction inclined at an angle of 30 o with the rod.
Also calculate the percentage contraction in the length of rod.

5. What is the length of a meter stick of length 2 cm moving parallel to its length when its
mass is times of its rest mass?

6. A µ- meson with an average lifetime of 2 × 10 𝑠𝑒𝑐 is created in the upper atmosphere


at an elevation of 6000 m. When it is created it has a velocity of 0.998c in a direction
towards the earth. What is the average distance that it will travel before decaying, as
determined by the observer on the earth? Also, what is the classically expected distance
before decaying?

7. A particle has a total energy of 6 × 10 𝑀𝑒𝑉 and a momentum of 3 × 10 𝑀𝑒𝑉/𝑐. What


is the rest mass of the particle?

8. Compute the mass m and speed ν of an electron having kinetic energy 2 MeV. Given rest
mass of electron m0 = 9.11×10-31kgm, velocity of light in vacuum c = 3×108 m/sec.

9. Determine the time, as measured by a clock at rest, taken by a rocket to reach distant star
and return to earth with a constant velocity 𝑣 = √0.9999𝑐 if the distance of the star is 4
light year.

10. Plot the relativistic and classical for the kinetic energy of an electron as a function of v/c.
(a)Explain why the classical expression for kinetic energy fails at high speeds.
(b) Discuss why relativistic mechanics becomes necessary when v approaches c.

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