Concept explainers
You stand at the center of your 100 m spaceship and watch Anna’s identical ship pass at 0.6c. At
(a) A friend on your ship, 24 m from you in a direction toward the tail of Anna’s passing ship, looks at a clock directly across from him on Anna’s ship. What does it read?
(b) Your friend now steps onto Anna’s ship. By this very act, he moves from a frame where Anna is one age to a frame where she is another. What is the difference in these ages? Explain. (Hint: Your friend moves to Anna’s frame, where the time is whatever the clock at the location reads.)
(c) Answer parts (a) and (b) for a friend 24 m from you but in a direction toward the front of Anna’s passing ship.
(d) What happens to the reading on a clock when you accelerate toward it? Away from it?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 2 Solutions
Modern Physics
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Conceptual Physical Science (6th Edition)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
The Cosmic Perspective
University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)
Essential University Physics: Volume 2 (3rd Edition)
- Suppose our Sun is about to explode. In an effort to escape, we depart in a spaceship at v = 0.80c and head toward the star Tau Ceti, 12 lightyears 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 spaceship’s frame of reference, should we conclude that the two explosions occurred simultaneously? If not, which occurred first? (b) In a frame of reference in which the Sun and Tau Ceti are at rest, did they explode simultaneously? If not, which exploded first?arrow_forwardIf a spaceship is approaching the Earth at 0.100c and a message capsule is sent toward it at 0.100c relative to Earth, what is the speed of the capsule relative to the ship?arrow_forwardSuppose 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?arrow_forward
- Owen and Dina are at rest in frame S, which is moving at 0.600c with respect to frame S. They play a game of catch while Ed, at rest in frame S, watches the action (Fig. P9.63). Owen throws the ball to Dina at 0.800c (according to Owen), and their separation (measured in S) is equal to 1.80 1012 m. (a) According to Dina, how fast is the ball moving? (b) According to Dina, what time interval is required for the ball to reach her? According to Ed, (c) how far apart are Owen and Dina, (d) how fast is the ball moving, and (e) what time interval is required for the ball to reach Dina? Figure P9.63arrow_forwardThe proper length of one spaceship is three times that of another. The two spaceships are traveling in the same direction and, while both are passing overhead, an Earth observer measures the two spaceships to have the same length. If the slower spaceship is moving with a speed of 0.35c, determine the speed of the faster spaceship.arrow_forwardTwo 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 P1.34arrow_forward
- A spaceship in the shape of a sphere moves past an observer on Earth with a speed of 0.5c. What shape will the observer see as the spaceship moves past?arrow_forwardA spacecraft moves at a speed of 0.900c. If its length is L as measured by an observer on the spacecraft, what is the length measured by a ground observer?arrow_forwardYou have been hired as an expert witness in the future by an attorney representing the driver of a spacecraft. The driver is accused of exceeding the galactic speed limit of 0.700c relative to the Earth while being chased by a galactic police spacecraft. The driver claims he is innocent, that his speed was well below that limit. You have been provided with the following data: the police spacecraft was traveling at 0.600c while chasing the driver and a technician on the police spacecraft measured the suspected spacecraft as traveling at 0.300c relative to the police spacecraft. What advice should you give the attorney?arrow_forward
- Owen and Dina are at rest in frame S. which is moving at 0.600c with respect to frame S. They play a game of catch while Ed. at rest in frame S, watches the action (Fig. P39.91). Owen throws the ball to Dina at 0.800c (according to Owen), and their separation (measured in S') is equal to 1.80 1012 m. (a) According to Dina, how fast is the ball moving? (b) According to Dina, what time interval is required for the ball to reach her? According to Ed, (c) how far apart are Owen and Dina, (d) how fast is the ball moving, and (e) what time interval is required for the ball to reach Dina?arrow_forwardTwo spaceships approach each other, each moving with the same speed as measured by an observer on the Earth. If their relative speed is 0.70c, what is the speed of each spaceship?arrow_forwardWhat is the relative velocity of two spaceships if one fires a missile at the other at 0.750c and the other observes it to approach at 0.950c?arrow_forward
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology ...PhysicsISBN:9781305116399Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningPrinciples of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningModern PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781111794378Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. MoyerPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern ...PhysicsISBN:9781337553292Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning