Bob shines a powerful laser beam from his deep space station out into space. Alice pursues the beam in her spaceship, which travels at 99.99999c. What is the speed of the laser beam relative to Alice? [c = speed of light] O a.c O b. 2c O c. 0.00001c Od. 0.5c

Bob shines a powerful laser beam from his deep space station out into space. Alice pursues the beam in her spaceship, which travels at 99.99999c. What is the speed of the laser beam relative to Alice? [c = speed of light] O a.c O b. 2c O c. 0.00001c Od. 0.5c

College Physics

1st Edition

ISBN:9781938168000

Author:Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs

Publisher:Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs

Chapter28: Special Relativity

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 23PE: (a) Suppose the speed of light were only 3000 m/s. A jet fighter moving toward a target on the...

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(a) All but the closest galaxies are receding from our own Milky Way Galaxy. If a galaxy 12.0109ly ly away is receding from us at 0. 0.900c, at what velocity relative to us must we send an exploratory probe to approach the other galaxy at 0.990c, as measured from that galaxy? (b) How long will it take the probe to reach the other galaxy as measured from the Earth? You may assume that the velocity of the other galaxy remains constant. (c) How long will it then take for a radio signal to be beamed back? (All of this is possible in principle, but not practical.)
If astronauts could travel at v = 0.950c, we on Earth would say it takes (4.20/0.950) = 4.42 years to reach Alpha Centauri, 4.20 light-years away. The astronauts disagree. (a) How much time passes on the astronauts clocks? (b) What is the distance to Alpha Centauri as measured by the astronauts?
(a) Find the kinetic energy of a 78.0-kg spacecraft launched out of the solar system with speed 106 km/s by using the classical equation K=12mu2. (b) What If? Calculate its kinetic energy using the relativistic equation. (c) Explain the result of comparing the answers of parts (a) and (b).
(a) Suppose the speed of light were only 3000 m/s. A jet fighter moving toward a target on the ground at 800 m/s shoots bullets, each having a muzzle velocity of 1000 m/s. What are the bullets' velocity relative to the target? (b) If the speed of light was this small, would you observe relativistic effects in everyday life? Discuss.
A spacecraft built in the shape of a sphere moves past an observer on the Earth with a speed of 0.500c. What shape does the observer measure for the spacecraft as it goes by? (a) a sphere (b) a cigar shape, elongated along the direction of motion (c) a round pillow shape, flattened along the direction of motion (d) a conical shape, pointing in the direction of motion
If astronauts could travel at v = 0.950c, we on Earth would say it takes (4.20/0.950) = 4.42 years to reach Alpha Centauri, 4.20 light-years away. The astronauts disagree. (a) How much time passes on the astronauts clocks? (b) What is the distance to Alpha Centauri as measured by the astronauts?
Two powerless rockets are on a collision course. The rockets are moving with speeds of 0.800c and 0.600c and are initially 2.52 × 1012 m apart as measured by Liz, an Earth observer, as shown in Figure P1.34. Both rockets are 50.0 m in length as measured by Liz. (a) What are their respective proper lengths? (b) What is the length of each rocket as measured by an observer in the other rocket? (c) According to Liz, how long before the rockets collide? (d) According to rocket 1, how long before they collide? (e) According to rocket 2, how long before they collide? (f) If both rocket crews are capable of total evacuation within 90 min (their own time), will there be any casualties? Figure P1.34
Suppose our Sun is about to explode. In an effort to escape, we depart in a spacecraft at v = 0.800c and head toward the star Tau Ceti, 12.0 ly away. When we reach the midpoint of our journey from the Earth, we see our Sun explode, and, unfortunately, at the same instant, we see Tau Ceti explode as well. (a) In the spacecrafts frame of reference, should we conclude that the two explosions occurred simultaneously? If not, which occurred first? (b) What If? In a frame of reference in which the Sun and Tau Ceti are at rest, did they explode simultaneously? If not, which exploded first?
Suppose a spaceship heading straight toward the at 0.750c can shoot a canister at 0.500c relative to the ship. (a) What is the velocity of the canister relative to Earth, if it is shot directly at Earth? (b) If it is shot directly away from Earth?
Suppose a spaceship heading straight towards the Earth at 0.750c can shoot a canister at 0.500c relative to the ship. (a) What is the velocity of the canister relative to the Earth, if it is shot directly at the Earth? (b) If it is shot directly away from the Earth?
(a) How fast would an athlete need to be running for a 100-m race to look 100 yd long? (b) Is the answer consistent with the fact that relativistic effects are difficult to observe in ordinary circumstances? Explain.
A pulsar is a stellar object that emits light in short bursts. Suppose a pulsar with a speed of 0.950c approaches Earth, and a rocket with a speed of 0.995c heads toward the pulsar. (Both speeds are measured in Earth's frame of reference.) If the pulsar emits 10.0 pulses per second in its own frame of reference, at what rate are the pulses emitted in the rockets frame of reference?