In certain radioactive beta decay processes (more about these in Chapter 30), the beta particle (an electron) leaves the atomic nucleus with a speed of 99.95% the
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- Which of the following statements are fundamental postulates of the special theory of relativity? More than one statement may be correct. (a) Light moves through a substance called the ether. (b) The speed of light depends on the inertial reference frame in which it is measured. (c) The laws of physics depend on the inertial reference frame in which they are used. (d) The laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames. (e) The speed of light is independent of the inertial reference frame in which it is measured.arrow_forwardAs measured by observers in a reference frame S, a particle having charge q moves with velocity v in a magnetic field B and an electric field E. The resulting force on the particle is then measured to be F = q(E + v × B). Another observer moves along with the charged particle and measures its charge to be q also but measures the electric field to be E′. If both observers are to measure the same force, F, show that E′ = E + v × B.arrow_forwardA rod of length L0 moving with a speed v along the horizontal direction makes an angle 0 with respect to the x axis. (a) Show that the length of the rod as measured by a stationary observer is L = L0[1 (v2/c2)cos2 0]1/2. (b) Show that the angle that the rod makes with the x axis is given by tan = tan 0. These results show that the rod is both contracted and rotated. (Take the lower end of the rod to be at the origin of the primed coordinate system.)arrow_forward
- Give a physical argument showing that it is impossible to accelerate an object of mass m to the speed of light, even with a continuous force acting on it.arrow_forwardA pirate has buried his treasure on an island with five trees located at the points (30.0 m, 20.0 m), (60.0 m, 80.0 m), (10.0 m, 10.0 m), (40.0 m, 30.0 m), and (70.0 m, 60.0 m), all measured relative to some origin, as shown in Figure P1.69. His ships log instructs you to start at tree A and move toward tree B, but to cover only one-half the distance between A and B. Then move toward tree C, covering one-third the distance between your current location and C. Next move toward tree D, covering one-fourth the distance between where you are and D. Finally move toward tree E, covering one-fifth the distance between you and E, stop, and dig. (a) Assume you have correctly determined the order in which the pirate labeled the trees as A, B, C, D, and E as shown in the figure. What are the coordinates of the point where his treasure is buried? (b) What If? What if you do not really know the way the pirate labeled the trees? What would happen to the answer if you rearranged the order of the trees, for instance, to B (30 m, 20 m), A (60 m, 80 m), E (10 m, 10 m), C (40 m, 30 m), and D (70 m, 60 m)? State reasoning to show that the answer does not depend on the order in which the trees are labeled. Figure 1.69arrow_forwardAccording to special relativity, a particle of rest mass m0 accelerated in one dimension by a force F obeys the equation of motion dp/dt = F. Here p = m0v/(1 –v2/c2)1/2 is the relativistic momentum, which reduces to m0v for v2/c2 << 1. (a) For the case of constant F and initial conditions x(0) = 0 = v(0), find x(t) and v(t). (b) Sketch your result for v(t). (c) Suppose that F/m0 = 10 m/s2 ( ≈ g on Earth). How much time is required for the particle to reach half the speed of light and of 99% the speed of light?arrow_forward
- Explain why, when defining the length of a rod, it is necessary to specify that the positions of the ends of the rod are to be measured simultaneously.arrow_forwardSpacecraft I, containing students taking a physics exam, approaches the Earth with a speed of 0.600c (relative to the Earth), while spacecraft II, containing professors proctoring the exam, moves at 0.280c (relative to the Earth) directly toward the students. If the professors stop the exam after 50.0 min have passed on their clock, for what time interval does the exam last as measured by (a) the students and (b) an observer on the Earth?arrow_forwardAn observer in a coasting spacecraft moves toward a mirror at speed v relative to the reference frame labeled S in Figure P39.85. The mirror is stationary with respect to S. A light pulse emitted by the spacecraft travels toward the mirror and is reflected back to the spacecraft. The spacecraft is a distance d from the mirror (as measured by observers in S) at the moment the light pulse leaves the spacecraft. What is the total travel time of the pulse as measured by observers in (a) the S frame and (b) the spacecraft?arrow_forward
- An observer in a rocket moves toward a mirror at speed v relative to the reference frame labeled by S in Figure P1.30. The mirror is stationary with respect to S. A light pulse emitted by the rocket travels toward the mirror and is reflected back to the rocket. The front of the rocket is a distance d from the mirror (as measured by observers in S) at the moment the light pulse leaves the rocket. What is the total travel time of the pulse as measured by observers in (a) the S frame and (b) the front of the rocket? Figure P1.30arrow_forwardAn Earth satellite used in the Global Positioning System moves in a circular orbit with period 11 h 58 min. (a) Determine the radius of its orbit. (b) Determine its speed. (c) The satellite contains an oscillator producing the principal nonmilitary GPS signal. Its frequency is 1 575.42 MHz in the reference frame of the satellite. When it is received on the Earths surface, what is the fractional change in this frequency due to time dilation, as described by special relativity? (d) The gravitational blueshift of the frequency according to general relativity is a separate effect. The magnitude of that fractional change is given by ff=Ugmc2 where Ug/m is the change in gravitational potential energy per unit mass between the two points at which the signal is observed. Calculate this fractional change in frequency. (e) What is the overall fractional change in frequency? Superposed on both of these relativistic effects is a Doppler shift that is generally much larger. It can be a redshift or a blueshift, depending on the motion of a particular satellite relative to a GPS receiver (Fig. P1.39).arrow_forward
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